That is something which I suppose may be a possibility - something similar to the Eastern Orthodox tradition where (I believe) priests cannot marry, but it is possible to be ordained after getting married, so at the end of seminary priests must choose whether to get married or remain celibate.

In the western church (and to a large degree in the eastern churches too, where after all Bishops and religious must still remain chaste) it has been found that celibacy gives freedom to the priest, and aids the working of the church, and hence I suppose has been made the norm.

An interesting article was posted only today talking about celibacy in the Jesuit tradition, here and there is much else written about it (for example the catholic encyclopedia article)

Finally, we shouldn't forget that celibacy is of course not forced on anyone - every priest has made a free choice with due warning to enter into this state of life. Priesthood isn't a right, it is a gift of God to those able with his grace to live it.

No, just that celibacy is something which has been recognised as a practise from the start of Christianity. I recognise that there were married priests in the early church, and that is something carried on in the Orthodox churches (and I believe the Eastern Catholic Church).

Personally, I recognise that there is much good in a married priesthood, but also see much good coming from the vow of celibacy, for the priests and religious I have met it has been a blessing. There is scope for it to change in the Catholic church, and whether it will do is something to be seen, but any change shouldn't be the result of a rushed process/knee-jerk reaction to a crisis.

The Church does not condemn marriage, as those in that passage do, indeed it is one of the fiercest protectors of it and promotes it among the faithful.

It does however recognise that God calls some to live a chaste life in His service, as Christ himself says "There are eunuchs who have made themselves that way for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can" (Matthew 19 v12), and Paul later says to "those who are not married: it is a good thing for them to stay as they are, like me" (1 Corinthians v 8-9)

In terms of the priesthood it is a discipline, not a dogma, and hence there are some married priests in the western church (chiefly converts from Anglicanism), but it has been recognised from the very start of Christianity that the gift celibacy for the sake of Christ is one which can give joy and freedom to the priest.

If people would like to read the speech, and judge for themselves what he said there is an (unofficial) translation here http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2010/04/quote-of-month.html

In the vast vast majority of cases however its not still done (at least not systematically, I suppose the monks may well have Calligraphy as a hobby). There are however a good number of monasteries running printing presses/publishing operations, although now they are starting to fade :( A good example here in the UK is Farnborough abbey press where they both print and bind books.

The vatican tends to be quite slow translating the speeches, but there is an unofficial translation here: http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2010/04/quote-of-month.html