Married priestsThe bishops defend their decision not to consider the ordination of married men by saying they want to maintain “the traditional practice of the Church” (“Bishops reject married priesthood and General Absolution”, News from Britain and Ireland, 2 January). But obligatory celibacy has only been so for the past 1,000 years or so and has never been the practice in the East – the bishops are “pick-and-mixing” their tradition. And while priestly celibacy is indeed a “sacrifice” of sorts, so too is priestly marriage and family life, since both demand self-giving, unselfishness and lifelong commitment. Indeed, if anything, married priesthood involves a double sacrifice, as many priests’ wives play an almost equal part in