I’m considered homophobic and crazy about these things and old fashioned. But I think that the family - father, mother, children - is fundamental to our civilisation.

Murdoch frames himself as a target of criticism (“homophobic,” “old fashioned”) in order to defend a socially conservative view of family structure. The quote asserts that a heterosexual, two-parent household with children is not merely a private preference but a civilizational cornerstone—implying that alternative family forms threaten social stability. Rhetorically, it shifts the debate from individual rights or equality to the preservation of “civilisation,” a move that elevates his position to a moral and cultural imperative. The statement also illustrates how public figures sometimes pre-empt accusations by acknowledging them, then recasting their stance as principled rather than prejudicial.