U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico once described himself as a “Christian who hates Christianity” during a podcast appearance with a progressive theologian known for advocating transgender and queer theology.
The comments were highlighted Tuesday in a report by The Federalist, which unearthed a March 2021 appearance by Talarico on the Activist Theology podcast.
Talarico, an Austin Democrat now running against Attorney General Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate, frequently speaks about his Christian faith on the campaign trail and has built a national profile as a progressive Christian voice within the Democrat Party.
During the podcast, however, Talarico offered a striking description of his relationship with Christianity.
“I always think of myself as a Christian who hates Christianity, right?” Talarico said.
The podcast was hosted by Roberto Che Henderson-Espinoza, a theologian who identifies as transgender and nonbinary and whose work focuses on progressive and queer interpretations of Christianity.
According to The Federalist, Talarico expressed admiration for Henderson-Espinoza’s work, saying he was a “BIG fan” and that the author’s book “Activist Theology” had been an inspiration to him.
The discussion covered a range of topics, including race, gender identity, Christianity, and political activism.
At another point in the interview, Talarico argued that Christianity could serve as a powerful vehicle for advancing political change because many Americans already identify with the faith tradition.
“The reason I think Christianity can be powerful in our context in this country is because so many of our political opponents share that kind of, that tradition,” Talarico said.
The resurfaced interview comes as Talarico seeks to defeat Attorney General Ken Paxton in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country.
Asked about the resurfaced comments, Talarico campaign spokesman JT Ennis said the remark was not an expression of hostility toward the faith itself, but toward those who distort it for political or personal gain.
“The Christian seminarian who’s dedicated his life to the teachings of Jesus Christ obviously doesn’t hate Christianity,” Ennis said. “James is a devout Christian who fights religious and political corruption when he sees it — because there’s nothing Christ-like about powerful people twisting the teachings of Jesus to justify hate, violence, and greed.”
Ennis added that “while billionaire-bought politicians like Ken Paxton attack James for his faith – he will continue encouraging Texans across the political spectrum to come together by loving their neighbors as themselves.”
The Paxton campaign, however, argued the remarks fit a broader pattern.
“Every time one of these comments resurfaces, James Talarico claims it’s being taken out of context or written off as another ‘cringey comment.’ But after years of saying the same things, Texans can see the pattern,” Paxton campaign spokeswoman Madison Cercy told Texas Scorecard. “His record is a long history of fighting for the most progressive causes in the name of Christianity. The truth is he uses it as a shield to justify his crazy ideas.”
Texas Scorecard contacted Talarico’s campaign seeking comment on the remarks and asking whether he stands by them today. The campaign did not respond before publication.
The resurfaced podcast comments are not the first time Talarico’s religious views have attracted attention.
It was recently revealed that the library of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin—where Talarico attends and has preached—contains several books that have been challenged or removed from public school libraries over concerns about sexually explicit content.
The church’s catalog includes titles such as “Gender Queer,” “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” and “This Book Is Gay.”
