“We’re both Christians, and the Bible is silent on the issue of abortion,” says Talarico
AUSTIN, Texas (Texas Insider Report) — “Catholics tend, myself included, to be a one-issue voter,” said Jodi Hunt, a professor of applied ministry at the University of Dallas, Wednesday evening. She was challenging Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico during a CNN "Town Hall" on how Catholic voters – who make up 22% of the Texas electorate – can trust him to protect the lives of all Texans when he doesn’t support protections for the unborn.
Hunt was identifying Talarico's long-established record on abortion as a central issue of concern for Texas Voters.
“If you cannot provide policies or support policies that protect the most innocent among us – the unborn child – how can we trust that you’re going to provide policies to protect the rest of Texans?”
Talarico responded by invoking Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis, whom he described as “consistently pro-life” in their opposition to not only abortion, but also to poverty, climate change, and war.
Arguing that the two could find common ground – despite their disagreement over abortion’s legality – Talarico claimed:
“We’re both Christians, and the Bible is silent on the issue of abortion.”
He also proposed reducing abortions through age appropriate sex education, access to contraception, and health care.
He also proposed reducing abortions through age appropriate sex education, access to contraception, and health care.
Hunt pushed back on his biblical interpretation.
“The Bible is not silent on abortion. There is the 10 Commandments, Thou Shalt Not Kill,” Hunt said.
She also pointed out that Catholics have concerns about government interference in their children’s education – especially around the topics of sex education and contraception.
She also pointed out that Catholics have concerns about government interference in their children’s education – especially around the topics of sex education and contraception.
Talarico, who in addition to running for office is enrolled in seminary, often invokes his Christian faith as a justification for his progressive social views.
During the Wednesday town hall, he was also asked about his widely criticized claim that God is “non-binary.”
Talarico continued to defend his previous statements, while conceding his provocative framing of the statement may come off as “annoying.”
Talarico continued to defend his previous statements, while conceding his provocative framing of the statement may come off as “annoying.”
Talarico criticized Texas’s abortion restrictions, incorrectly claiming that the state’s ban applies even “when the life of the mother is in danger.”Texas law prohibits most abortions, including in cases of rape and incest, but provides exceptions for certain life-threatening medical conditions.
- READ MORE: Talarico Is Trying to Redefine Faith in Senate Campaign
- Talarico’s prior statements include claims that God is non-binary, that there are six genders, and that the incarnation of Jesus Christ makes the case for supporting abortion. While preposterous, those statements pale in comparison to others when viewed in light of Talarico’s training as a seminarian.
