Index: branches/release-32/lib/MT/App/Comments.pm
===================================================================
--- branches/release-32/lib/MT/App/Comments.pm (revision 1394)
+++ branches/release-32/lib/MT/App/Comments.pm (revision 1561)
@@ -1269,5 +1269,5 @@
         # published for this entry
         my $parent_comment = MT::Comment->load( $parent_id );
-        if ($parent_comment && $parent_comment->entry_id == $entry->id) {
+        if ($parent_comment && $parent->is_published() && $parent_comment->entry_id == $entry->id) {
             $comment->parent_id( $parent_id );
         }