His Majesty King Charles III is the supreme governor of the Church of England. His actions this week have demonstrated that supporting victims and survivors of abuse is more important than deference to important people. The Church of England should follow this example and rid themselves of the lying, manipulating abuser-protecting Archbishop of York.

I really do not know how the Archbishop of York manages to keep a straight face when he talks about safeguarding.

Stephen Cottrell has personally harmed victims: To their faces he made promises to act, only to later back down because Church lawyers, working for William Nye, told him to.

Stephen Cottrell has personally rewarded abusers: He made child abuser David Tudor an honorary canon of Chelmsford Cathedral and renewed his licence as area dean – giving him more responsibility and authority that normal parish priests and more money – as he was entitled to claim a £2,500 per year “expenses allowance”.

Stephen Cottrell has personally lied about safeguarding matters: he lied about his actions in the David Tudor case, he lied about the closure of the Archbishops’ Council’s “Independent” Safeguarding Board (ISB), he even lied to the General Synod in his apology to them about lying about the closure of the ISB.

And yet he continues to believe he is the person to lead the necessary reform of the Church of England’s safeguarding practice and structures. And what’s worse, the Church of England seem to agree.

When Andrew Mountbatten Windsor (as the man formerly known as Prince Andrew is now called) was born, he was second in line to the throne of the UK and a number of other Commonwealth countries. He remains in the line of succession (but has fallen to eighth because of births).

He has never been convicted of any offence and denies wrongdoing. Yet his actions – and his judgment – have been found wanting. The King has acted decisively and made clear that the “censures” imposed on Andrew Windsor this week “are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.”

In a statement, Buckingham Palace officials said: “Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”

Similar sentiments have been found in many, many, many Church of England statements over the past 20 years or so; usually with the addition that “lessons will be learned”. What makes the King’s statement stand out is that, unlike the Church of England, the King has spoken – AND acted.

Where is the action of the Church of England?

Why is Stephen Cottrell still the Archbishop of York?

Why do his fellow-bishops protect him?

Maybe the answer to that is to do with the number of complaints about bishops not following proper safeguarding practice that Stephen Cottrell has blocked.

Why does William Nye protect him?

Maybe the answer to that is do with the protection that Stephen Cottrell offers William Nye.

Why does the General Synod protect him?

Maybe the answer to that is to do with the number of people on the Synod who rely on Stephen Cottrell for promotion and patronage?

Or maybe it is more simple: the Church of England does not care about victims and survivors of abuse and just wants them to go away.

If the King can take action against somebody who was once second in the line of succession to the throne; surely the Church of England can take action against somebody who is number two in the Church. The answer to that is, again, simple. The Church can. The Church just doesn’t want to.