Latin Rite Catholics (whether Cardinals or Lay Faithful), be careful!!
In the attempt -- however noble in motive -- to defend the discipline of *mandated* celibacy like it's some type of dogma, you are insulting and offputting those with a legitimate married priesthood tradition of Christianity.
The words chosen tend to backfire and fester old wounds, instigate instead of heal, and simply add fuel to the fire.
The return of (more) married priests to the Latin Church, on the other hand, would foster a better understanding of the ancient married priesthood so that the Church's two lungs can breathe together once again.
Here's a sample of how +Stickler's case has been rebutted by scholars like Father Deacon Anthony Dragani, Ph.D.:
"Normally I would not concern myself with a defense of the Roman Catholic discipline of mandatory celibacy. After all, it is their tradition and they certainly have a right to defend it. However, this new literature goes a step further and seriously questions the legitimacy of the Eastern tradition of a married priesthood. Representative of the position is 'The Case for Clerical Celibacy,' by Cardinal Alfons Maria Stickler. This book is essentially a popularization of the claims of two other authors, distilled into a very readable format. Cardinal Stickler aims to get the word out that mandatory celibacy is the genuine discipline, and that the tradition practiced in the East is an unfortunate “innovation.”[1]"
"As an Eastern Catholic I am especially troubled by this claim. The history of Eastern Catholicism in North America has been marred by repeated attempts to impose mandatory celibacy upon us, always with tragic results. We have fought long and hard to affirm the legitimacy of our tradition of a married priesthood, and even now this issue is a subject of major concern and sensitivity. Therefore, the fact that an influential Cardinal has written a book that argues against the legitimacy of our tradition causes me some apprehension."
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