Australian Channel 9 reporter sorry for abortion post

Nine News Melbourne journalist Lana Murphy has issued an apology and is receiving counselling for sharing a controversial post from a pro-abortion rally.

Channel Nine have apologised after a television news reporter was photographed at a protest against the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe vs Wade decision holding a sign mocking Christianity.  

Lana Murphy was covering the protest in Melbourne when she was pictured holding a sign that said: 'Mary (the virgin) should've had an abortion.' 

The poster was then uploaded to her personal Instagram account.

The photo was widely shared on social media, with Catholic writer and Twitter user Joel Agius slamming it as a 'disgusting message of Christian hate'.

Following the backlash from religious groups and community members, the network issues a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

The network explained that Ms Murphy was told to attend a counselling session on 'why the post was not appropriate'.

Statement from Lana Murphy

In my role as a journalist I always strive to remain impartial and respectful to either side of rational debate.

On Saturday, while reporting on the pro-choice rally, I was photographed being passed a sign made by one of the attendees.

The words on the sign and my subsequent posting of that image on my personal social media account has caused offence to some in the religious community.

This was not my intention, and I wholeheartedly apologise to those that were hurt.

I acknowledge that in my professional role, it was not the appropriate time to appear to have chosen any side.