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Recent Comments

1. Very sensible and true words.

   Posted By: Peter

2. Fair enough, and true enough, Tony. This is good advice. Seing that you are elected to Parliament your function there, in political life, is to tell us about your policies that will support marriage and children.
   Please leave the delivery of homilies to our priests, religious and to parents as part of their function in life.

   Posted By: Michael Webb

3. Don't I remember hearing that Tony himself played around before his own marriage, and thought he had fathered a child out of wedlock? What was that about pot calling kettles black?

   Posted By: John Dobson

4. Thank God someone in politics has the fortitude to stick to his convictions! God has given us 'rules' for living because He wants us to live the best life that's available and hopefully we can touch others in our journey which ultimately brings God glory. We should all be praying for change in our Government. Pray that God will assign 'His' people in positions of leadership and decision making because it's these people that will help make Australia a righteous nation and a shining light to the rest of the world. Bless you Tony Abbott, keep going! You have our support.

   Posted By: Faye

5. Am I being excessively cynical by suggesting that this article could be regarded as a matter of 'do as I say not as I did'?

   Posted By: David

6. Please, let us not forget that men are virgins too: the Virgin Christ.
   I find it very offensive that only women are considered anad called virgins. Both male and female are virgins until consummation, whether before or after marriage.

   Posted By: srotondi@earthlink.net

7. I fully support Tony Abbott on this one, but I think he needs to protect his daughters from the media spotlight.

   Posted By: c.d.

8. What has this new role done to Tony Abbott? He is wearing thin with his 'sermons'. You are not doing yourself any favours with this 'I'm all pure now' image.
   You will have to wear your pass, Tony. Your reputation will need more than sermonizing.

   Posted By: Give us a break

9. The Leader of the Opposition has just raised hypocrisy to an art form.

   Posted By: Carmel

10. He is the last person who should comment on such a matter unless he is willing to admit the mistakes of his past!

    Posted By: Zed

11. More of Tony Abbott's dog whistling to diverse reactionary groups. It's not a matter of his hypocrisy; surely he knows that he has form. He's just sending out as many messages as possible to reclaim the heartland that Turnbull lost, no matter what the inconsistency, division, or moral emptiness.

    Posted By: MJ

12. I can't believe I'm hearing Catholics criticize public promotion of the virtue of chastity, in whatever form! Especially considering the damage that today's culture of promiscuity has done to our young men and women, making them insecure in relationships, unable to maintain their dignity and self-worth because of severe social pressure to relinquish their sexual integrity. I thought true Catholics were meant to welcome repentant sinners, or has Vatican II changed things so that rather than stand with Jesus we follow the pharisees in stoning the woman caught in adultery?
    Well done, Mr Abbott, for using your influence to help steer society back on course. Whatever you do, keep it up!

    Posted By: BM

13. Tony should be sticking to politics and not pushing church teachings - otherwise we should have all members of parliament (including non- Christian) to be able to express their beliefs - people can get too fanatical about their religion - Catholics included.

    Posted By: Stephen

14. Well said, BM. He was asked a question about what he would say to his daughters and he answered truthfully, and sensibly.
    How many of us made terrible mistakes growing up and simply do not want our own children to make the same mistakes. Tony Abbott is not being a hypocrite, he is merely trying to be a good father.
    If only we had more people like him in politics.

    Posted By: Noel

15. Women have always been taken advantage of - you have to look at the history of 'unmarried mothers' and how they were sent away in shame to know that.
    And it would help women too if men were to remain virgins until their marriage - as usual the double standard of sexual morality at work here.
    

    Posted By: Helen

16. This is more for the proud catholics - If you read the first paragraph it dictates 'urging women' and also 'the use of contraception' and 'rule' - of what the church?
    Politics and religion should not mix as there are other religions and religious beliefs as well and the first paragraph is not in accordance with the church teachings - is it - so why are you applauding him?

    Posted By: Stephen

17. Tony Abbott also revealed his wife and three daughters don't go to church with him and he can't 'bribe' them to attend Mass.
    Even if you don't like his politics, you have to feel for him as a man.

    Posted By: Nathan Socci

18. Well spoken Tony Abbott. Hope the words are heard and received and, in turn, lived.

    Posted By: Margaret

19. Well done, Tony Abbott. Your daughters should have every right to feel pleased to say 'that's my Dad'.
    In a country where heathen tendencies prevail it takes a gladiator to stand against the tide.
    A woman's day is the day she is married that she treasures for the rest of her life. The excuse of sampling the wares before takes away and does not add to this. Marriage is about working through together life's struggles and incompatabilities. For a person to marry and to hold something special in relationship I am sure all will agree obviously with exception of those who abuse themselves and others, is the ultimate goal between two people.
    I agree do not put the cart before the horse. This is not about being judgmental it is about young people respecting and valuing themselves and others in a degraded society. That girl is someone's daughter, wife mother, grandmother in a blessed life. Lift your sights and your head Australia. From a person who looks at the complete human being not just the physical.
    Is it not interesting the judgemental comments on a strong stance! I admire the person that makes this strong stance because it shows the substance of man. Think a little more deeply about human life before making off the cuff remarks - where are the comments with some substance - put spiritual before physical is the call.

    Posted By: Gemmel Scholz

20. I don't intend to wait till marriage because what if I were to save my so called gift for marriage, what happens when my husband is a complete dud. What a waste of marriage.
    People make sex out to be a much bigger deal than it actually is. If it's done with someone you trust and respect, and vice versa, with protection, what's the big deal?

    Posted By: Vivien

21. Vivien: In response to your questions, may I say that if your husband turns out to be a dud, and that makes the marriage wasted, then you've wed him for all the wrong reasons.
    For Catholics and other Christians, the big deal is that God has placed a high value on marriage throughout history. He has also consistently frowned on sex outside of marriage. Try doing a little online research, and you'll find plenty to back up what I've just written. God is strict, but you'll find that his rules regarding sex are the best way to life-fulfilling happiness.

    Posted By: Paul Keen

22. Good on you, Tony. You are so right to say that sex is a gift from God and should be saved for marriage, as God intended. I am so disappointed at some of the remarks posted here. Are you all so perfect! We all sin in all sorts of ways, but we must still stand up for what is right, and to do it in the public eye takes a great deal of courage. Even the priests at mass won't preach no sex before marriage any more, so is it any wonder our children are growing up thinking there is nothing wrong with it? God bless you Tony.

    Posted By: Yvonne Graham

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