Guilty conscience / bad conscience

[nq:1]Hi everybody! Would you native speakers accept "bad conscience" as a synonym for "guilty conscience" or would you rule it out as unidiomatic? Example: He had lied to her and now was sitting at home with a bad conscience. Thanks for your help![/nq]
I wouldn't. Others may.
I would use "bad conscience" in the sentence "He was acting in bad conscience" meaning that he was knowingly doing

You wouldn't accept it or you wouldn't rule it out?
"tony cooper" schrieb im Newsbeitrag

[nq:2]I wouldn't. Others may.[/nq]
I wouldn't use it that way. I wouldn't rule it out, though. I only rule out that which is completely unacceptable. Something that may be acceptable to some, but not to me, is not ruled out.
[nq:2]I would use "bad conscience" in the sentence "He was ... knowingly doing something wrong. Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida[/nq]
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

[nq:1]I wouldn't use it that way. I wouldn't rule it out, though. I only rule out that which is completely unacceptable. Something that may be acceptable to some, but not to me, is not ruled out.[/nq]
However, while "He was acting in bad conscience" makes perfect sense, it's not a familiar phrase. I think I would say something like "He was acting insincerely".

Ian

"Bad" implies intent. As in they are knowingly doing it. "Guilty" can mean intent but just as often means knowledge of a mistake and is almost always used in the past tense.
"He is acting in bad conscience"
vs
"He has a guilt conscience."
People would understand you just fine either way, but using "Bad conscience" in any way that doesn't imply present tense intent would feel awkwar