MSW did not miss the point.  You just don't 'get it'.

The consciences of individuals are formed at HOME in children from their infancy,  long before anything that the church can state to youngers. It is parents, family, friends, teachers, media, and  sports---that have had a major impact in forming the INTERNALIZATION of what is Right and Wrong.  It is essential that children and adults have a Relationship with the Divine, FIRST and FOREMOST.  Without that, any intellectual 'criteria' will have little, if any impact.

And sorry, but there is more to how the conscience operates than 'intellectual' action.  Kids as well as adults, see and hear about more crimes that are committed as emotional responses---on the spur of the moment, NO THINKING ABOUT IT, than ever before.  

There is a 'subjective definition of Conscience' and it is formed through RELATIONSHIP with God [prayer/reflection].   It is this mystery of divine love that is the basis of understanding the primacy of conscience.