Since we've established I'm a male, that also means I'm free to do just about anything I want with my body without fear of it falling under the Crimes Act. (Let's save the dirty jokes for another day)

So it's long overdue that a bill to decriminalise abortion was supported in NSW Parliament late on Thursday night.

There's no doubt that it's a sensitive subject.

A quick look at The Border Mail's Facebook page whenever we post a story on the matter will reveal that.

But I think it can safely be said that, despite the protestations of some in the community, most people support women being able to make a choice about what they deem is right for them.

I also think the past week has shown that Justin Clancy has the makings of a fine politician.

Mr Clancy is the president of the Sacred Heart Church parish council in North Albury but despite having reservations about about the bill, and saying he couldn't support it in its original form, he voted for it once a series of amendments were made.

As Albury deputy mayor Amanda Cohn, doctor Catherine Orr and reproductive rights representative Liz Marmo said, Mr Clancy put the views of the majority of his constituents over his own personal beliefs and that can't have been easy.

Lavington priest Fr Brendan Lee, who is a regular columnist for The Border Mail, said he was "shocked" and "deeply hurt" by Mr Clancy's vote and you know what? That's OK, too.

Fr Lee is a good man with strong beliefs and he's entitled to hold his view on abortion but we'll just have to agree to disagree on this matter.

I was raised a Catholic, and still am, but I'm guilty of being one of those people that Fr Lee laments "call themselves Catholic (but) are no more Catholic than getting baptised". I would like to get to church more than I currently do - which is generally Easter, Christmas, christenings, weddings and funerals, regrettably - but I'd also like to think I know right from wrong and am an understanding and compassionate person, at least most of the time.

The right thing to do in this instance - and thankfully enough members of NSW Parliament, including Mr Clancy, did - was to decriminalise abortion and support the rights of women.

If supporting that makes me a bad Catholic, well, I'll just have to live with it.