Catechesis: Ap XXIII: Marriage of Priests

But they are not serious in their [the opponent’s] defense of celibacy. They know good and well how few practice chastity, but they use religion as a pretext to maintain their authority, which they think celibacy enhances... We cannot approve the law of celibacy put forth by our opponents because it clashes with divine and natural law and conflicts with the very decrees of the councils.—Ap. XXIII:5, 6