by 
rody
ANSWERS: 2
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From what I understand it has been an on-again-off-again kind of policy. These links have a lot of info on the history of Catholic clerical celibacy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clerical_celibacy http://catholic-clergy.suite101.com/article.cfm/why_are_catholic_priests_celibate http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03481a.htm
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In the Middle Ages (to protect Church property from being inherited by a priest's children). There are some Eastern Rite churches , like Maronites, which are part of the RCC, and accept the Pope as the head of the Church, where there are married priests today. I think they cannot become bishops. In the Western Rite celibacy is enforced but Protestant married ministers who convert to the RCC can become priests.
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