# Talarico's Church Doubts Jesus Existed; Democrat Distances Himself

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/talaricos-church-doubts-jesus-existed-democrat-distances-himself
- Published: 2026-09-26T13:07:25.597931+00:00
- Topics: religion, christianity, james-talarico, texas-senate-race, culture-war

## What the left says
- St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church encourages congregants to wrestle openly with faith and 'think for themselves' rather than accept doctrine uncritically, which is a longstanding tradition within progressive Christianity.
- Talarico's own theology emphasizes pluralism and mysticism, reflecting a personal and evolving faith rather than a rigid political tool, and he should not be held responsible for every view expressed by clergy at a church he attends.
- Undercover recordings by partisan outlets are designed to embarrass a Democratic candidate ahead of a competitive Senate race rather than to inform voters about his actual policy positions.
- Attacking a candidate's pastor or church community for unorthodox theological musings distracts from substantive issues like healthcare, abortion rights, and economic policy that matter to Texas voters.

## What the right says
- Voters deserve to know that the church closely associated with a Senate candidate has clergy who reject foundational Christian beliefs like the virgin birth and the resurrection's saving purpose.
- Talarico's own sermons describing God as 'not a being' and praising non-Christian mystics suggest a broader pattern of theological ambiguity that raises legitimate questions given Texas's heavily Christian electorate.
- The pastor's own admission that Talarico's campaign has 'distanced' from him and that his advisors are managing the political fallout suggests an awareness that these beliefs could hurt him electorally.
- Warning congregants about hidden cameras rather than defending the theological statements themselves suggests concern about political exposure rather than confidence in the beliefs expressed.

## Common ground
- James Talarico was baptized as a child by Rev. Jim Rigby and has a decades-long personal relationship with St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin.
- Rigby has publicly confirmed that Talarico's campaign has distanced itself from him amid the controversy.
- The story is unfolding roughly 40 days before a competitive U.S. Senate election between Talarico and Ken Paxton.
- Undercover video footage obtained by conservative outlets is the source of the controversial statements from church clergy.

## Sources
- [Breitbart](https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/25/lesbian-chaplain-at-senate-candidate-james-talaricos-church-jesus-didnt-die-to-save-humanity/) (Unknown)
- [Breitbart](https://www.breitbart.com/faith/2026/09/25/nyc-episcopal-priest-declares-jesus-is-transgender-if-you-deny-this-you-deny-his-divinity/) (Unknown)
- [Daily Wire](https://www.dailywire.com/news/talaricos-woke-pastor-has-a-warning-for-his-flock-after-undercover-videos-go-viral) (Right)
- [Daily Wire](https://www.dailywire.com/news/rachel-dolezal-2-0-black-palestinian-activists-race-faking-secret-is-out) (Right)
- [Daily Wire](https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-video-talaricos-pastor-sounds-off-on-dems-uncomfortable-beliefs) (Right)

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