Dear Larry:

You ask a good question, but your suggested explanation is problematic. We need to remember the words of St. Ignatius Loyola, which are quoted in the Catechism under the paragraph dealing with rash judgment:

Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another's statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.

The reason that the Church discourages Eastern Rite married priests to be assigned in the United States, or at least not assigned in positions that are public, has NOTHING to do with chauvinistic motivations or airs of superiority.

The reason has to do with protecting Catholics in the United States (most whom are Latin Rite) from scandal. Many Catholics may be scandalized to see a priest with wife and children. We are not use to seeing such things in this country.

(I might add that the Eastern Rite Bishops understand this and have agreed to this restriction).

You may say, okay, but these priest are legit so what is the problem? Well, part of the problem is that this country is so immature that many American Catholics just couldn't handle this. Sad, but true.

Also, given the immature rebelliousness in the United States with people promoting a married priesthood, to allow married priests in the country may fuel the fires of these dissenters.

Bishops have a responsibility to protect the flock from scandal (even if the scandal exists only because of the flocks own immaturity).

The potential for scandal, for whatever reasons, is a fact of life. The Bishops are just doing their job on this issue.

This situation may change in time and as it does the Bishops in the United States will likely welcome Eastern Rite married priests. In the meantime, however, the presence of Eastern Rite married priests in a Latin Rite country has too much potential to cause disturbance to the Faithful (albeit that "disturbance" comes from immaturity on their part; it is nevertheless a disturbing situation for them that must be addressed by our pastors).

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary