WATCH: Talarico's Church Gives New Members Bible that Erases 'Son of God' from Jesus's Name
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico's long-time church, St. Andrew's Presbyterian in Austin, provides new members with an 'Inclusive Bible' that replaces traditional gendered language for God, such as 'Lord,' with terms like 'Most High' and 'Sovereign One.' This Bible, first published in 2007 by Priests for Equality, also rewords Jesus' titles, removing references like 'Son of God' and replacing them with phrases like 'Only Begotten' and 'Eternally Begotten.' The practice was revealed through undercover video footage showing the distribution of these Bibles during a church service. Reverend Jim Rigby, the church's pastor and Talarico's spiritual mentor, acknowledged the Bible's focus on inclusivity but criticized its handling of more 'metaphysical' content. Talarico, who was baptized at the church and has strong personal ties to it, previously stated in a 2021 debate that 'God is non-binary,' a statement he later described as cringey and deliberately provocative. The church identifies as 'Presbyterian & Progressive' and claims many congregants identify as agnostic or atheist.
Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico’s long-time church in Austin, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, has been revealed to distribute an “Inclusive Bible” to new members that omits references to Jesus as the “Son of God,” according to undercover video footage obtained by The Daily Caller. The footage, recorded in August, shows a new member named Larry receiving a copy of the Bible during a service. The book, which replaces traditional gendered language with more inclusive terms, is described by the church as a tool to promote a “non-gendered” view of divinity. Rev. Jim Rigby, the church’s head pastor for over three decades and a spiritual guide to Talarico, explained the practice in the video. “It’s good on the gender stuff,” he said. “The more, like, metaphysical stuff, it’s not a very good translation, if that makes sense. I think it’s really important to have a good translation so you can let go of the stupid stuff.” The Bible, first published in 2007 by Priests for Equality, is marketed as the “first egalitarian” version. It substitutes terms like “Son of God” and “Son of Man” with alternatives such as “Only Begotten” and “God’s Own,” arguing that older translations use “sexist and classist forms” of God’s name. Talarico’s connection to St. Andrew’s dates back to his childhood, including his baptism there and participation in key life events, such as his parents’ wedding and his swearing-in ceremony as a Texas House representative. The church identifies itself as “Presbyterian & Progressive,” emphasizing that referring to God as male is “perhaps the most sexist comment a person can make.” A separate video, cited by Texas Scorecard, suggests that a majority of congregants identify as agnostic or atheist. This revelation comes amid Talarico’s Senate campaign against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, a race currently within close polling margins. Earlier in the year, Talarico sparked controversy with remarks suggesting that “God is non-binary,” a statement he later described as “cringey” and “deliberately provocative.” He has also expressed ambivalence toward organized religion, once identifying himself as a “Christian who hates Christianity.” Paxton’s campaign recently launched an AI-generated advertisement featuring a deepfake version of Talarico, quoting him on religious topics. However, FactCheck.org noted that the ad omitted crucial context surrounding Talarico’s statements. For instance, the ad highlights his remark about being a “Christian who hates Christianity,” but fails to include the broader discussion from a 2021 podcast where Talarico explored spirituality beyond conventional frameworks. During the interview, he acknowledged the tension between faith and institutionalized religion while expressing admiration for the transformative potential of religious teachings. The ad, which includes a disclaimer stating that the video content was generated by artificial intelligence, has been widely disseminated through cable and digital platforms. Talarico’s campaign has criticized the ad as an attempt to misrepresent his views, accusing dark money groups of fabricating narratives to undermine his candidacy. As the election approaches, the intersection of personal belief, public image, and political strategy continues to shape the narrative around both candidates.
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Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico's long-time church, St. Andrew's Presbyterian in Austin, provides new members with an 'Inclusive Bible' that replaces traditional gendered language for God, such as 'Lord,' with terms like 'Most High' and 'Sovereign One.' This Bible, first published in 2007 by Priests for Equality, also rewords Jesus' titles, removing references like 'Son of God' and replacing them with phrases like 'Only Begotten' and 'Eternally Begotten.' The practice was revealed through undercover video footage showing the distribution of these Bibles during a church service. Reverend Jim Rigby, the church's pastor and Talarico's spiritual mentor, acknowledged the Bible's focus on inclusivity but criticized its handling of more 'metaphysical' content. Talarico, who was baptized at the church and has strong personal ties to it, previously stated in a 2021 debate that 'God is non-binary,' a statement he later described as cringey and deliberately provocative. The church identifies as 'Presbyterian & Progressive' and claims many congregants identify as agnostic or atheist.
Bias read (Conservative): The article highlights the religious practices of a prominent political figure, emphasizing the use of an 'inclusive' Bible that omits traditional theological terminology. While presenting factual information, the framing focuses on the potential implications of Talarico's affiliations and beliefs,
Why factuality (95): The article accurately summarizes the Daily Caller's report, citing specific details such as Rev. Jim Rigby's comments, the Inclusive Bible's modifications, and Talarico's connection to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian. It includes relevant background information about the Inclusive Bible and its history.
Why objectivity (75): The article leans slightly toward a critical tone, particularly in describing the Inclusive Bible as erasing 'Son of God' from Jesus's name, which could be seen as biased phrasing. However, it does present the facts from the Daily Caller's report without overtly editorializing, maintaining a mostly
Republican candidate Ken Paxton ran an AI-generated advertisement featuring a deepfake version of his Democratic opponent, James Talarico, repeating statements about religion and gender identity. The ad omitted crucial context surrounding Talarico's remarks, including clarifications he later provided. Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian and Texas state representative, had previously expressed views on nonbinary God and multiple genders, which he later sought to clarify. The ad, released on September 8, was tracked by AdImpact and aired across Texas and nationally. It included a disclaimer noting the AI-generated content but failed to fully disclose the nature of the deepfake. Talarico's campaign criticized the ad as an attempt to misrepresent him using dark money tactics. The ad also featured remarks from Talarico that were later cited by Paxton at a Republican midterm convention.
Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the AI-generated ad as an intentional distortion by Paxton's campaign, emphasizing the use of technology to manipulate public perception. The focus on Talarico's controversial remarks and the implication that Paxton is countering misinformation aligns with conservative narratives.
Why factuality (85): The article accurately represents the context surrounding the AI-generated ad featuring Talarico, referencing the Daily Caller's coverage indirectly. It correctly notes that the ad omits context from Talarico's remarks and includes fabricated elements. While it does not directly reference the Inclus
Why objectivity (95): The article is highly objective, presenting the facts about the AI ad without taking sides or injecting personal opinions. It clearly distinguishes between the ad's content and Talarico's actual statements, ensuring neutrality in its reporting.
The HillIndependentConservativeFactual 85Objective 70
President Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc., contributed an additional $5 million to the Texas Senate race, specifically to Del Ray Media LLC for TV and digital advertising against Democratic candidate James Talarico. This follows a prior $10 million donation to the same media firm for attack ads. Republican candidate Ken Paxton's campaign has received nearly $54 million from the GOP-aligned Senate Leadership Fund's Texas affiliate. Despite trailing in fundraising with only $1.76 million in cash on hand compared to Talarico's $21.5 million, Paxton remains in a tight race with Talarico, currently leading by one point in recent polling. The Cook Political Report classifies the race as a 'toss up.' Republicans are urging Trump to deploy his substantial campaign funds for midterms, with Trump pledging up to $500 million for the election cycle.
Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the contributions from MAGA Inc. as part of a broader strategy by the Republican establishment to influence the outcome of the Senate race. It emphasizes the scale of the financial support provided to the Republican candidate, while highlighting the disparity in fundraising totals
Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the $5 million contribution from MAGA Inc. to Del Ray Media LLC based on FEC filings, which aligns with the primary source document. It provides context about the candidates' fundraising positions and poll numbers, which are supported by FEC data. However, it does not
Why objectivity (70): The article presents the information with a clear partisan tilt, favoring the Republican perspective by highlighting the disparity in fundraising and the pressure on Trump to contribute more. While it mentions the Cook Political Report as nonpartisan, the overall tone suggests support for the Republ
The New York Times (US)Independent🔒CenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 90
James Talarico, a white candidate who defeated a Black opponent in the Texas Senate primary, has received crucial support from the Congressional Black Caucus’s political arm. This endorsement comes as Talarico prepares to face Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the November general election. The backing suggests some Black political leaders see potential in Talarico’s candidacy despite his race. The outcome could influence the balance of power in the Texas Senate.
Bias read (Center): The article presents Talarico's victory over a Black opponent and his upcoming matchup against a Republican, but does not overtly frame the endorsement as supportive or critical of either candidate. It reports the fact without clear ideological leaning, maintaining neutrality in tone and focus.
Why factuality: no official source document/info detected
Why objectivity (90): The article maintains a neutral and objective tone regarding the topic it covers, focusing solely on the political aspects of Talarico's campaign without bias or opinion. Since it does not discuss the Inclusive Bible or related events, it cannot be judged on its objectivity concerning those topics.
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