Amare Ecclesiam (“To Love the Church”) is a thought-provoking volume by William Lindsay Simpson, President of the Catholic Law Society of Luxembourg, bringing together reflections on faith, law and diplomacy across 23 chapters. Prefaced by Fr Ed Hone (Dean of St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge), it draws on fifteen years of conferences, discussions and exchanges, speaking to believers, legal professionals and diplomats navigating the Church’s role in contemporary secularised societies. Read more here.
The first section explores Christian resilience (e.g., reflections of a judge from the EU Courts) and the transmission of faith in secular societies, featuring journalist and author Rod Dreher alongside Cardinal Hollerich’s insights on prayer and evangelical joy. The second delves into canon law (Pope Francis’ reforms, the legacy of martyred judge Rosario Livatino) and contemporary legal challenges, including COMECE’s legal advocacy before EU institutions and a particularly original comparison between post-Brexit Scotland’s relationship with European law and the role of canon law in Reformation-era Scotland. The final part examines the Holy See’s international status, diplomacy, and its finances.
What stands out is its practical approach: How can Christians reconcile faith with professional and public life? An insightful resource for Catholics, lawyers, diplomats and public policy professionals seeking to understand how faith continues to interact with law, politics and international affairs in twenty-first century Europe.
William Lindsay Simpson, Amare Ecclesiam, Ed. Parole et Silence, June 2026, pp. 1–378.