Bishop Mario Grech and others want us to believe that conscience must be formed and infused by truth. That’s all very well, but it should not necessarily conform with all that Bishop Grech says. On the one hand we are told that people are free to abide by their own genuine conscience and on the other some clerics believe that we should be anti-divorce or otherwise it’s a sin.

So here is a true story. A woman who had just got married grumbled to her new husband, from day one, that she had made a mistake and should never have got married. She started to leave the house in a mess and refused to do the cooking and cleaning. The husband decided to do all the housework to keep the peace.

She then started to go out on her own and come home late, even cheating on her husband, who was a good man and forgave her in the hope she would change her ways. But she became arrogant and even threw things at him. The poor man kept calm and was afraid that if he retaliated he could end up in prison.

Her father backed her, so things became more complicated and dangerous. Finally they decided to separate. The man applied for an annulment. It took a long time to be settled and he had to pay thousands of euros. His wife wanted to make his life hell and during the annulment proceedings she did her best to put the blame on him.

This man then met a good women and together they have a child whom they care for and love very much. They live happily together and go to church with their child and say prayers regularly. It is a big heartache for them that they cannot receive Holy Communion. They are also very confused about what to tell their child when asked why they do not receive Holy Communion.

Now, what should their consciences be telling them?