Dear Representative Talarico,

As a Democrat and Presbyterian seminary student representing Texas House District 50, you’ve secured strong support, winning 76.8% of the vote in 2022—a safe seat reflecting Austin’s progressive values. Your recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, discussing Senate Bill 10 (mandating Ten Commandments displays in classrooms), highlighted your Christian faith and ministerial aspirations. I commend your commitment to loving your enemies, as Jesus taught. However, your claim that there is “no historical, theological, biblical basis” for a pro-life stance demands a response, as it overlooks the Bible’s clear teachings on the sanctity of unborn life.

As a Christian and a Republican, I respectfully challenge your position, not to attack but to invite reflection and dialogue. The Bible consistently affirms the value of life from conception, treating the unborn as fully human in God’s eyes. Consider these 14 biblical truths:

  1. Life Begins and Has Value at Conception: Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:30-35, and Matthew 1:20-21 show God’s involvement at conception, with Jesus entering the world as a conceived human.
  2. God Forms the Baby in the Womb: Psalm 139:13-16 and Jeremiah 1:4-5 reveal God’s intimate creation of the unborn.
  3. God Makes Plans for the Baby in the Womb: Romans 9:11-12, Galatians 1:15-16, and Jeremiah 1:4-5 indicate God’s purpose for the unborn.
  4. God Cares for and Protects the Baby in the Womb: Exodus 21:22-25 calls for justice to protect unborn life, equating harm to the unborn with harm to any person.
  5. God Desires Faithfulness from the Baby in the Womb: Psalm 51:5-6 and Jeremiah 1:4-5 show God’s expectation of devotion even before birth.
  6. God Teaches Wisdom to the Baby in the Womb: Psalm 51:5-6 and Hosea 13:13 depict God imparting wisdom to the unborn.
  7. God Gives Calling to the Baby in the Womb: Romans 9:11-12, Luke 1:15, Isaiah 7:14, and Jeremiah 1:4-5 highlight God’s purpose for the unborn.
  8. God Sets the Baby in the Womb Apart for Their Calling: Jeremiah 1:4-5, Galatians 1:15-16, Isaiah 49:5, Isaiah 7:14, and Luke 1:41-44 affirm the unborn’s divine purpose.
  9. God Knows the Baby Before They Are Formed: Jeremiah 1:4-5, Isaiah 7:14, and Psalm 139:13-16 show God’s pre-conception knowledge of the unborn.
  10. God Ordains the Days of the Preborn: Genesis 1:26, Genesis 2:7, and Psalm 139:13-16 emphasize God’s sovereignty over the unborn’s life.
  11. Jesus Entered the world as a Conceived Human, Not as a Baby: Luke 1:30-35 and Matthew 1:20-21 underscore Jesus’ humanity from conception.
  12. The Unborn Can Worship in the Womb: Luke 1:15 and Luke 1:41-44 depict the unborn celebrating, worshipping and leading worship of God.
  13. The Unborn Can Be Filled with the Holy Spirit: Genesis 25:21-23, Luke 1:15, and Jeremiah 1:4-5 show the unborn’s spiritual capacity.
  14. God Gives Names to the Unborn: Hosea 1:4,6,9; Hosea 2:1; Luke 1:13, 1:31; Matthew 1:21; Isaiah 8:3; and Isaiah 49:1 reveal God naming the unborn, affirming their specific, special identity.
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These passages, spanning Old and New Testaments, affirm that God values the unborn as He values all people. Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40 (NIV)—“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”—extend to the unborn, whom Scripture counts among the “least of these.” To dismiss this as mere opinion seems to reflect Austin’s cultural lens more than biblical truth.

I recognize that many Christians, including those in ministry, may not fully engage with these scriptures on this issue. Yet, as a seminary student, you have a unique opportunity to explore them deeply. The gospel transformed the world 2,000 years ago, dismantling polytheism and reshaping ethics, government, and culture. It can do so again on the subject of life if we align with God’s view of the unborn.

My wife, Yvette, and I have worked for decades in the pro-life movement, from challenging the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate to advocating for life-affirming legislation in Austin. Now, our focus is ministry, meeting with pastors to encourage a biblical pro-life perspective. I’d welcome the chance to meet with you to discuss this further, not as political adversaries, but as brothers in Christ.

You rightly champion love for others, but I urge you to reconsider whether supporting policies that end unborn lives aligns with the Bible’s clear teachings. Our culture’s view of life can shift back to God’s design if we ground ourselves in Scripture. I believe that, 100 years from now, a deeper understanding of God’s heart for the unborn will prevail—and I hope you’ll join us in that conviction.

With respect and hope,
Rich DeOtte
President, LifeEducationAndAction.com