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Description of  The Serpent and the Dove: Celibacy in Literature and Life (Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality)

"The modern Catholic church has no more careful observer than Sipe….This book continues to deepen Sipe's thoughtful and at times angry engagement with the Catholic church's policy on clerical celibacy….His work as a kind of prophet for a revised, renovated understanding of celibacy is important." –Library Journal "An entertaining and vital book. What is particularly gratifying about this work is that it is even-handed, letting readers evaluate their own opinions and attitudes. Many religions have embraced celibacy, in addition to individuals who make personal choices.The issues surrounding celibacy are complex and Richard Sipe is never reductive. He poses problems in a fascinating way, and it is possible to read his book as avidly as the popular novels he describes. He writes engagingly in a prose that speaks to real people. This book is a must read for any person fascinated by what a religious commitment entails." (Marianne McDonald, Ph.D., MRIA)