The church is close to the centre of Glasgow, on the road behind Glasgow Royal Infirmary. It has accommodation for 500 people and is open every weekday between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

There is a loop for those who are deaf and a special lift for those who have difficulty with steps.

Sometimes people think about the Catholic vision of morality as if it were concerned with condemning and denouncing people. This is a distortion of the truth. It is not a matter of condemning people but of clarifying the issues in particular kinds of decisions. Very often people convince themselves that they are right in what they are doing because “everybody is doing it”. In other words, I thought this was wrong, but since everyone else is doing it, it can’t be that bad.

We must do what we sincerely believe to be right but how we came to that sincere belief may be very questionable. Sincerity is a serious , ongoing task. An opinion expressed by a person we like and admire may be treated with respect and approval, whereas the very same view expressed by someone we dislike may be dismissed. Sometimes we can be very fickle in moral decisions! We must take time to inform our conscience, seek truthful, dependable knowledge. We would pay no attention to someone who tried to teach us that two and two make five.

Conscience is not merely someone whispering in my ear, it is not just a feeling or an instinct. It is my judgement of what is the best thing to do in a particular situation. The voice of conscience does express an important insight. In the deepest recesses of every human being God is present. There, in their own hearts, people decide their own destiny in the sight of God (Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes). In deciding our destiny we are responding to or rejecting God. We live in an age when it is not easy to hear the voice of God and sometimes, when it suits, we close our ears completely - ears that do not hear, eyes that do not see!

When looking at the Church and examining its teachings there is a tendency to see its moral vision and its ideals not as helpful advice but as restrictive regulations. How many people, one wonders, at the back of their minds, think something like , "Isn't it well for people who are not Catholic, they don't have to worry about all these rules?" There is something puzzling about such an attitude.

If the people think that what the Church says about these matters is false why does it concern them at all? If they think it is true, surely they cannot think it is better not to know the truth! The problem is that anyone who thinks it is all about rules misses the point. What comes first is God's love and our response to it; in second place comes the Commandments. It is important to remember that the Pope and the Bishops are merely handing on the teaching of Jesus Christ, who gave them the responsibility to teach the community in his name. What kind of person would want to reject the teaching of Christ?

When a person has to make a judgement on a serious matter, there should be a period of reflection, weigh up the pros and the cons, seek more information, have a clear mind on the matter. Pray for guidance and enlightenment. Think about the effect your decision will have on others, and ultimately, on yourself. Shy away from the notion "my conscience is clear, I can do what I like!"