Originalism Without Natural Law Is Running on Half an Engine

Originalist jurisprudence should not be limited to textual history alone but ought to incorporate the classical natural‑law tradition (as embodied by Catholic institutional practice) to ground legal interpretation about religious organizations and moral questions. Doing so, the author argues, would better protect the autonomy and distinctiveness of faith‑based institutions from secular regulatory or administrative encroachment. — If adopted by conservative jurists or institutions, this reframing could change constitutional arguments over religious liberty, campus governance, and the legal status of faith‑based organizations.