The statement lists a range of views, including that homosexuality and homosexual acts are ''abomination unto God, a perversion of the natural order and not to be entered into'' as well as statements supporting divine healing and creationism. The policy was now under review, according to Christian Schools Australia, which says the wording has been ''misunderstood'' and that gay and lesbian students are treated with care. Mr Abbott said he disagreed with the Statement of Faith but said Penrith Christian School was a ''good school''. ''Look, this is a good school and it is a school which has been supported by people like [Labor MPs] David Bradbury and Peter Garrett. ''I respectfully disagree with lots of things that are said on that particular subject and obviously I disagree with that one.''

Mr Bradbury and former Education Minister Peter Garrett opened a Trade Training Centre at the school earlier this year. Mr Abbott went on to announce his policy within the school hall, which is used for services of the Imagine Nations Pentecostal church on weekends. Asked whether public schools might pursue policies like Penrith Christian School under the Coalition's policy, Mr Abbott said no. ''The Independent Schools in Western Australia and the more autonomous public schools here in NSW are obviously bound by departmental and government policy on these sorts of issues,'' he said.School principal Bruce Neville was unrepentant when questioned on the stance by reporters at the school. The language that they've used in that statement comes from an older translation of the Bible, it's not in step with modern language and doesn't reflect the attitude that the school has to the treatment of people who identify as homosexual

''We are not considering renewing our statement of faith at the moment,'' Mr Neville said. But Stephen O'Doherty, chief executive officer of Christian Schools Australia, contradicted that statement hours later. ''Because of the capacity for it to be misunderstood, the school is going to review the way in which the policy is worded,'' he said. ''The language that they've used in that statement comes from an older translation of the Bible, it's not in step with modern language and doesn't reflect the attitude that the school has to the treatment of people who identify as homosexual.'' Mr O'Doherty denied students at the school who were gay were taught their own sexuality was a perversion and said such a suggestion was "offensive".

''The school has over the years dealt with many students who are struggling with issues of sexuality; it's dealt with those students with great care and compassion and provided lots of pastoral care for those kids at a very difficult time in their lives,'' he said. ''People are accepted for who they are, that is a key teaching.'' The events come amid a push by Sydney MP Alex Greenwich to overturn laws which allow private schools to discriminate against or expel students for being gay. Loading Under the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act, private educational authorities are exempt from provisions protecting students from discrimination on their basis of their sexuality or transgender status.

with Peter Munro and AAP