Talarico to Catholic voter: Bible is ‘silent’ on abortion

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico faced questions about his abortion stance from a Catholic voter during a CNN and Jubilee town hall in Fort Worth on Wednesday evening, National Review reported. Jodi Hunt, a professor of applied ministry at the University of Dallas, asked how Catholic voters, who make up 22 percent of the Texas electorate, can trust him to protect the lives of all Texans.

Talarico cited Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis, whom he described as “consistently pro-life” in opposing abortion, poverty, climate change and war. Arguing the two could find common ground, he said: “we’re both Christians and the Bible is silent on the issue of abortion.” Hunt replied: “The Bible is not silent on abortion.”

Hunt later praised him. “I was surprised at how centrist he was on many of the issues,” she said. Asked about his claim that God is “nonbinary,” Talarico defended the point but conceded the framing may come off as “annoying.”