Texas Representative Uses Faith to Support Progressive Causes
James Talarico, a Democratic Texas Representative and Senate candidate, leverages his Christian beliefs and experience as a Presbyterian seminarian to advocate for progressive issues like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and gun control.
In a recent conversation on “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert, Talarico reiterated his past claims. He suggested that the “religious right” focuses too heavily on “abortion and same-sex marriage,” topics he believes are “not mentioned in the Bible” and that “Jesus never discussed.”
According to Talarico, “Jesus gave us two commandments: Love God and love your neighbor.” He emphasized that there are no exceptions to loving your neighbor—this includes everyone, regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, or religious beliefs. His commitment to the separation of church and state stems from this view.
Steve Deace, a host on Blaze TV, is among those in the conservative Christian community who criticize Talarico, dubbing him a false teacher. His comments, however, extend beyond just denouncing progressive Christians.
“James Talarico is going to be a Legion,” Deace proclaimed, outlining a biblical revival process he believes is happening in America, regardless of the nation’s future.
Deace describes a three-step process: first, a filtering of true believers from those who are lukewarm; next, “Introducing a New Structure,” where God creates new church practices; and finally, “mobilization,” where genuine followers are sent out to spread the gospel.
Despite this vision, Deace warns of an adversarial counterfeit process that involves shame and a push towards secularization, ultimately leading to a state-imposed form of religion.
He labels Talarico an “object and vessel of malice,” indicating that Talarico is not merely deceived but is, in fact, spreading deception. Deace argues that Talarico’s message is missing core elements of the gospel, particularly on sin, repentance, and salvation.
“What do you think was completely missing from James Talarico’s message? Sin, repentance, and salvation. So guess what we haven’t heard anything about from James Talarico: the gospel,” he concluded.
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To learn more, check out the episode linked above.

