“Given Adrian Vermeule’s attack on our founding documents of the 1980s, I thought the time was right to reveal what had been shown to me.” https://t.co/ESvE3pmO8q— Adrian Vermeule (@Vermeullarmine) May 8, 2020
.@smithpatrick08 contra @Vermeullarmine: the Founders built better than they knew. https://t.co/xu6ZP7g5Mk— joe barnas 🦔 (@BarnasJoe) May 8, 2020
The answer to Vermeule becomes clear, does it not? If one accepts a thick understanding of originalism and the Anglo-American tradition, you see that the power to execute heretics is already part of the constitutional order in this country. Federalism is nothing if not a warrant for the states to pursue heretics—as good originalists, we note that these are heretics as Frederick II and Boniface VIII would have seen them—while the federal government sticks to its knitting. Our great separation of powers means that state-court judges shall issue writs de heretico comburendo and de excommunicato capiendo upon the application of ecclesiastical authorities for governors and sheriffs to execute. If the states have modified this understanding by various enactments—here we should remember that statutes in derogation of the common law are always construed narrowly—that is their choice. Other states may make other choices.
Maybe I am sleep deprived or it is too early in the day, but I can't tell what the author is trying to accomplish with this "satire." Appealing to the burning of heretics just discredits his brand of Christianity and makes his political thinking suspect to anyone considering Latin integralism with an open mind but modern sensibilities regarding religious liberty. Rather than a slam against originalism, it's an "own goal" against Latin integralism.
I know in many places there is a COVID-19 lockdown, but: "Dude, you need to get out of the house more."
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