I agree with Kathryn that University of Dallas theology professor Jodi Hunt did a very fine job in her exchange with Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico last night. Hunt refused to concede Talarico’s argument that the Bible is silent on abortion.
Furthermore, when Talarico disingenuously claimed that he wants to reduce abortion through more support for age-appropriate sex education and contraception, Hunt shrewdly pivoted. She stated that Catholics would find that unpersuasive, since we believe that “parents should be the primary educator of our children.”
Talarico’s answer was even worse than it appeared. He recited the same tired Democratic Party talking points, stating that as a matter of public policy there should be more access to sex education, contraception, and health care. He went on to state, “We know that reduces the number of abortions.”
However, many programs to promote contraception use are either ineffective at best or counterproductive at worst. Furthermore, there is no research showing that more spending on either sex education or health care reduces abortion rates.
Talarico is doggedly trying to position himself as a moderate because he is running in a conservative state. However, his voting record as a state legislator shows that he is a full-throated supporter of legal abortion. He has voted against funding for Texas’s Alternatives to Abortion program. He has voted against legislation that would prevent taxpayer dollars from going to abortion facilities. All in all, Texas pro-lifers should not be impressed by the weak rhetorical olive branch that James Talarico extended to Jodi Hunt and other pro-life Texans last night.