THE Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has launched an attack on prevalent moral attitudes, highlighting a ''more confident mood among the gay community''.

In the church's religion and morals report, be presented to its synod next week, the report's author, the Rev Roderick Macleod of Tarbert, Harris, says: ''Not to pass judgement or to remain neutral in the face of the actions and reactions of our fellow men is counted as an act of moral courage and an evidence of spiritual maturity.

''Taken to its ultimate conclusion this mentality will produce 'a generation which cannot blush' and a nation which prides itself that it cannot do so.''

It points out that the editor of a gay magazine had stated that ''there is a more confident mood among the gay community. Chris Smith's career as a Cabinet Minister has certainly not been affected by his sexual orientation''.

The report says that to a large extent the word of God is ignored and sins which were condemned in Scripture were no longer confined to secret indulgence but were ''tolerated by legislation and by the appointment to high ministerial position in the Government of men who are well known as indulging in such sins''.

On abortion, the report says that despite assurances that there would be no explosion in number of terminations the number had risen from 22,000 in 1967 to 177,000 in 1996.

Referring to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the church's Sabbath observance report, by the Rev Keith Watkins of London, says: ''How loud a voice to a Sabbath breaking and adulterous generation Princess Diana's death was! We are informed that the tragic crash occurred early on Sabbath morning. Yet again disaster struck when worldly pleasure was being sought on God's day.''