Just Facts President Accuses Talarico of Butchering Bible to Justify Agenda

Jim Agresti, president and co-founder of Just Facts, accused Texas Senate nominee James Talarico of spreading a "perverted version" of Christianity to justify his progressive policy agenda. Agresti told Fox News Digital that Talarico is "butchering the Bible" while misrepresenting the U.S. Constitution.

The criticism follows Talarico's viral post on X, viewed over 2 million times, in which he cited biblical grounds for supporting universal healthcare and opposing what he called a "corrupt system." Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, wrote that Jesus did not ask for a deductible when healing the sick and did not price gouge when feeding the hungry. He argued that taking on the current system is an act done on biblical grounds.

Agresti, who preaches monthly at a church in Texas and has written a book on the veracity of the Bible, stated he believed Talarico was misquoting Jesus upon hearing the comments. Agresti claimed to have found more than 50 Bible passages regarding giving to people in need, noting that none described government handouts. He characterized these passages as teaching self-sacrificing generosity rather than state-funded welfare.

The dispute centers on the parable of the Good Samaritan, which Agresti said illustrates an individual voluntarily sacrificing time and money to help someone in need without involving government. Agresti argued that Talarico's support for taxpayer-funded healthcare contradicts this principle because it involves taking money from others rather than offering personal funds. He stated that Talarico is flouting the Constitution by pushing for government roles that the document limits.

Agresti extended his critique to the Declaration of Independence, arguing it is rooted in biblical principles that secure God-given rights. He contended that government welfare programs have contributed to a large national debt, reducing funds for other priorities such as stopping crime, murder, and theft. He compared Talarico to Alexander Hamilton, asserting that Hamilton misled the public about his true agenda regarding the size of government after the Constitution was ratified.

This is not the first time Talarico has faced controversy over religious remarks. In 2021, Talarico stated on the Texas House floor that God is non-binary while objecting to a bill banning transgender athletes from women's sports. He previously described Jesus as a "radical feminist" and called the overturning of Roe v. Wade "unchristian."

Talarico is set to face Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the November Senate race. In response to Agresti's comments, JT Ennis, a spokesperson for the Talarico campaign, said James is a Christian seminarian dedicated to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Ennis stated that Talarico fights corruption because there is nothing Christ-like about using scripture to justify hate or greed. He added that Talarico will continue encouraging Texans to love their neighbors despite attacks from billionaire-bought politicians like Paxton.