Former teacher and Texas Congressman James Talarico, who is pursuing a path to becoming a pastor, spoke to CNN about his stance against displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools. His comments have attracted criticism from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is currently in the Republican primary for the Senate seat.
“A federal appeals court has determined that the Texas law is constitutional,” stated Ken Paxton, who stands as an opponent in the upcoming elections. “This is a monumental win for Texas and our moral values. The Ten Commandments greatly influence our nation, and it’s essential for students to learn from them daily.” The CNN host then asked Talarico for his reaction to Paxton’s statements.
Talarico responded, “I’m not sure Ken Paxton is the right person to preach to us about moral values. My grandfather was a Baptist preacher in South Texas, and he once told me that Christianity is simple, though not easy. Essentially, Jesus gave us two commands: love God and love your neighbor, without exceptions.”
He added, “My faith encourages me to love all my neighbors—not just those who look like or think like me. This includes everyone from different faiths to atheists. I don’t want anyone imposing their beliefs on me, and especially not the government. So, why would I do that to someone else?”
Talarico mentioned that he actively criticizes Christian nationalism in the Texas House of Representatives. “As a Christian, I believe theocracies are the most perilous types of government. The most dangerous thing is a tyrant who believes they are acting on divine instruction. I also stand firmly for the separation of church and state. This separation isn’t just beneficial for democracy; it also safeguards the church. When religion entwines too closely with politics, it loses its voice,” he expressed, calling the recent ruling unconstitutional and un-Christian, stressing the importance of loving all neighbors, particularly those of different faiths.
In a retort to Talarico, Paxton accused him of endorsing extreme beliefs, claiming, “James Talarico says God commands us to believe in six genders, support late-term abortion, and abuse children by ‘transgendering’ them. He is completely morally bankrupt.”
After securing the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, Talarico debated in the legislative session regarding a Texas law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. He pointed out that Jewish tradition includes many more commandments, and the proposed law only promotes one interpretation, which disregards the diversity of beliefs within both religions. He also commented regarding the Founding Fathers, claiming, “I’d say I’m more religious than some of them.”
Talarico has expressed support for Muslim Texans too, proposing legislation to allow imams to officiate weddings. He mentioned that Texas hosts the largest Muslim population in the U.S. and thanked those involved in crafting the related bill. In past statements, he emphasized inclusivity, saying, “Texas is big enough for all of us.”
Moreover, Talarico connects his support for abortion rights to his religious convictions, stating in a 2022 sermon that restrictions on abortion equate to treating “every neighbor with a womb as property of the state,” which he found profoundly un-Christian. He remarked that the transgender community also requires access to abortion care, emphasizing the protection of transgender individuals as an ongoing priority in the Texas capital.
Paxton, in contrast, leads in a Texas poll among likely Republican voters, though the landscape is shifting, with notable support among younger voters and Latino demographics. Despite this, many Republican voters view incumbent Sen. John Cornyn as sympathetic to Trump’s ideology, which may influence the general election dynamics.
