As we already know, Eastern priests are (not Bishops, etc.) but, in the West, wasn't St. Peter married? As well, others? Why celibacy? Although it sounds noble and "clean" if you will, a married priest is not really an issue with me, but I am not in charge.

I see no reason why not, with the exceptions of juggling family issues with parish responsibilities (that's what Mrs. Priest is for) as well as the added expense involved in supporting them, which would become more of a financial burden on the parishioners. Yet, Eastern priests have always had some additional employment to offset and even totally provide for this, and their parishioners have always supported that concept and worked around it. They pitch in and help around the parishes more, and no one is paid for their services, like n.o. cleaning people, or many other needs the Pastor might require that n.o. parish pay for, unless no one is available to fix the plumbing, and a plumber must be brought in and paid, itd.

In sum: it's all what we get used to.

Both married and celibate priests have their issues and obstacles, yet, I think it is better to be married, because they DO understand married life better, (OK - many unmarried priests with big families have a good handle too, but not the same, IMHO!!!) As well, married priests in general (we would expect) are not ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖs or have need of hooking up with women. They understand children better, instead of getting all p-o'd at Mass by telling parents to remove their kids because they are making noise (yeah -- incessant screamers are another matter).

Again: it's all what we get used to. I see it as a benefit in many, many ways over any obstacles. There are worse things!!!

Is there a good apologetic reason / source for why not?

I know and understand the reasons why, (no need to repeat them here, if you don't mind) I'm just looking for additional resources pointing expounding on this.

Thank you!

When you say apologetic, what do you mean?  Are you looking for papal pronouncements, the writings of Doctors or Fathers?  Basic logic?  What are you looking for?

True enough: the virginal state is indeed preferred to the married state.

 PREFERRED.

You're confusing and conflating the married state/single state issue with HOLY ORDERS. When St. Paul is talking about singleness being PREFERABLE, he is speaking, in general, to the LAITY. St. Peter was also married BEFORE he was ordained, which is the precise reason WHY Eastern priests are allowed to be ordained if they are ALREADY married. They are not allowed to marry AFTER being ordained, for exactly the reasons St. Paul listed.

St. Peter was also described as 'leading around' a wife; there is good reason to believe that this choice of phrase refers to his care for her temporal needs and not a conjugal relationship.

Holy St. Joseph was married to Our Lady; She remained a Virgin Her whole life. Was/is there something wrong with THEIR married life not being conjugal? Obviously, St. Joseph's example is a beautiful one... he was, in a sense, 'ordained' to his role as caregiver to Our Lady and to Our Lord Jesus Christ, and yet, his faithfulness to his calling did not include, and is not judged by, his enjoyment of conjugal rights.

The argument about 'depopulating the earth' is laughable. There are BILLIONS of people who are not of the Faith; they can populate the earth for you. LOL

St. Paul is speaking of the CONSECRATED religious life when he says that each 'has his own gift from God'. The PREFERENCE he refers to is his OWN personal preference that the unmarried and widows remain as he was. That word, prefer, presumes St. Paul's TEACHING of these Christians about the different challenges of single, married and consecrated life.

You are acting like a Protestant when you take these verses of Holy Scripture and act as though these are the ONLY things the Apostle said on these matters. The letters of Scripture are only a GLIMPSE at the pastoral care and spiritual direction that the holy Apostles gave to their congregations.

Please stop flouting your prideful disobedience to Holy Church. As a traditional Catholic, you should not be calling into question what has been defined by the Church. You have no right and have not been given the charisms that our Holy Fathers have been.

I asked that question to a priest prior to Vatican II, ( I am 72 years old), and he answered me;  "what happens when he wants a divorce?"

It would be good to research this matter thoroughly, so as to help people like Clelia understand these matters better.

A man takes a wife and commits himself to her exclusively.

A priest is consecrated to the Holy Church and is formed specifically for the offering of the Sacrifice of the Mass.  

These are two distinct callings.

Can a man be wholly consecrated to the priesthood when half his heart and all of his body be consecrated to her wife?  

Can a man be wholly consecrated to the priesthood when half his heart and all of his body be consecrated to her wife?  

In a certain sense, it is possible. Remember, marriages do exist among priests in the eastern rites, though I don't believe they are a majority; however, bishops are not able to be married, and one of the rites require them to be monks.

Though this wasn't where I'd imagined the conversation going! My believe and preference is for unmarried priests as well. I was hoping to gain a better understanding of the Church's teaching in this regard for my own sake, and also to confront this issue with an uncle of my wife.