Only a woman can fill the moral void at the top of the Church of England [Video]

As a Catholic, there is much to like about the Church of England: its democratic decision-making in the General Synod, as opposed to the Pope telling you what to do; its committed presence in every left-behind community around the UK where the vicar is the one professional who lives there 24/7.

But when its senior leadership continues making the same incomprehensible, horrific mistakes year after year about safeguarding, I despair for its future.

Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York – otherwise in my brief experience of working with him, a likeable, down-to-earth, rounded human being whose own humble background has taught him plenty about real life – is the latest in the spotlight.

For 10 years as Bishop of Chelmsford, prior to being promoted to York, he allowed David Tudor– a priest in his diocese whose past record was such that the church had since 2008 banned him from being alone with …