Texas Senate Candidate’s Pastor Welcomes Atheists

Newly surfaced undercover video has captured Texas Democrat U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico’s pastor and mentor, Rev. Jim Rigby, expressing his openness to atheists joining his church. Rigby stated, “If you love humanity and love nature and that’s why you hate religion then we’re on the same team.”

Talarico has been attending St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Austin since childhood, with Rigby leading the congregation since the 1980s. Talarico referred to Rigby as his pastor in every sense, crediting him and his grandfather as two of the greatest influences in his life, both as a Christian and simply as a person.

Additionally, Rigby was the one who baptized Talarico and officiated his parents’ wedding.

The video, captured just before Rigby’s speech at a Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) event, highlights FFRF’s mission, which asserts that much of the moral and social advancements in Western society have been driven by those who are free from religious constraints.

FFRF identifies itself as the largest “freethought association” in the U.S., representing nearly 42,000 individuals who identify as atheists, agnostics, or skeptics.

In the footage, Rigby shares that he has faced scrutiny within his denomination over issues related to LGBT rights, abortion, and non-theistic beliefs. He points out that the church has welcomed an atheist member, which he doesn’t find to be a significant issue.

Moreover, Rigby avoids using male pronouns for God, arguing that it suggests a hierarchy within gender, implying that a male child is more like God than a female. He refrains from the term “Lord,” viewing it as reinforcing an image of a privileged, male deity. While he occasionally employs the term “God,” he prefers to use various synonyms since the concept can differ greatly among individuals.

The video also features Rev. Babs Miller, who openly states that she doesn’t need a God, though she believes in a force that connects everything. “We are not a worshipping church,” she emphasizes.

Miller, who serves as Minister to the Parish at St. Andrews, recently commented on video about Talarico’s political stance, suggesting that his current position is disingenuous and predicting a shift back to his original views once he is elected.

Talarico has since sought to clarify his earlier comments, stating he was being “provocative” when saying God is non-binary, trying to convey that human terms are insufficient to encapsulate the divine.

The upcoming Senate race will see Talarico facing Republican Ken Paxton, a match closely watched as November approaches.