threespires
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There may be someone here more knowledgeable on history of the Roman Church than I, but if I remember correctly many, many, many years ago priests weren't required to be unmarried. They could have wives and children.
The issue the Vatican ultimately had with that situation was priests were dying and leaving parish money and lands to their families. The Vatican found that unacceptable.
Became mandatory in the 11th century in western Europe with last married Pope being Adrian II a couple of hundred years before that I think. Some theological basis but as you say mostly about land and inheritance and avoiding priestly dynasties.
Catholic church currently accepts married Anglican priests/bishops who convert to Catholicism into the priesthood. At some point the crisis in the number of clergy will mean some will push for a change and they'll be a massive bun fight and possibly some form of schism.