CELIBATE LOVE
Paul M. Conner, O.P.
Condition: Good. Hardcover in deep blue dust jacket with light shelfwear to edges; interior evenly toned, clean, and unmarked. Binding firm.
About the Book
Can celibacy and love coexist? Can there be deep, personal friendship between men and women who have chosen a celibate life and if so, what form does such love take? Celibate Love addresses these searching questions with theological integrity and psychological realism, offering a balanced reflection on the meaning of affection, companionship, and sexual abstinence in Christian life.
Father Paul Conner approaches his theme with both sensitivity and intellectual rigour. Drawing upon Scripture, classical Catholic theology, and modern psychological insight, he examines the tensions between intimacy and abstinence, emotion and vocation. His purpose is neither to idealize nor to condemn, but to articulate a humanly credible way of living love as a celibate one that includes warmth, friendship, and emotional truth.
Written for clergy, religious, and lay readers alike, the work remains particularly relevant for those facing long-term abstinence through choice, bereavement, or separation, offering companionship of thought and spiritual understanding.
About the Author
Paul M. Conner, O.P., was an American Dominican priest and scholar who began his career as a Fulbright scholar in France. He taught at colleges in Europe and the United States, gaining wide respect as a retreat leader and lecturer in the theology of vocation and renewal. His writing combines scholarly precision with pastoral compassion, reflecting his lifes work in spiritual direction and Christian anthropology.
