no sex before marriage -- as an ideal.

But he also pledged Government's commitment to the "safe sex'' message.

"Somehow we have got to get both messages across,'' he said yesterday.

"Abstinence is the ideal, ultimate protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

"It's important, however, to be realistic and accept the compulsion to have sex in your late teens is quite powerful.'' Mr. Edness spoke out following a full-page ad in The Royal Gazette yesterday, calling for pre-marital abstinence.

Headed "In Defence of a Little Virginity'', it was paid for by church leaders, business groups, and concerned local people, including the Church of Nazarene, West Pembroke Pentecostal, The Children's Book Edness backs safer sex shop, and Business Services of Bermuda.

The ad brands the safe sex solution as a disaster, saying it encourages belief protection from condoms is foolproof.

It claimed condom promotion radically increased the risk of disease, adding: "There is only one way to protect ourselves from the deadly diseases that lie in wait.

"It is abstinence before marriage, then marriage and mutual fidelity for life to an uninfected partner. Anything less is potentially suicidal.'' Yesterday Mr. Edness said the Department of Health had always advocated abstinence.

But it had also backed "safer sex'' -- intercourse between two consenting adults involved in a monogamous relationship.

"Condom use is one means of minimising health risk, but we have always maintained that it is not the safest method,'' he said. "Further, we do not encourage the widespread distribution of condoms without proper health education.

"Education is, and has been, our most effective method of preventing the further spread of sexually transmitted diseases. We encourage students to make the right choices based on responsible behaviour and intelligent decision making.

"Abstinence is always presented as a student's wisest option.'' Mr. Edness pointed out health department representatives distributed pamphlets on abstinence during school talks.

"While it is important for Government to promote responsible sexuality among young people, establishing morals within our society are avenues for the church and families to come together.'' Mr. Edness said it was important for the church, family, and Government to unite in the fight against AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.