Turning a blind eye, not doing the right thing or kicking a tricky issue down the road hoping it goes away tends to have the habit of returning with a vengeance and exploding in your face.

When the above happened to the Archbishop of Canterbury, a role that comes with a universal expectation – and responsibility - that the incumbent will always do the right thing, it shone a light on how offenders are getting away with wrongdoings because people who should fail to act.

This offender was a man who inflicted physical and sexual abuse and brutality on the children and young people he was trusted to care for at Christian summer camps throughout five decades.

He is one of multiple offenders evading justice because people are allowing it.

Justin Welby became aware 11 years ago when he took up his post – five years before the abuser John Smyth’s death – but did nothing.

Had he spoken up, Smyth could have been brought to justice and his victims felt heard as the law took its course.

I wonder how people feel who let people like Smyth get away with their crimes; abuse that has left deep and permanent scars on multiple victims.

People knew but kept quiet for whatever reason. The reputation of the church for one. It can never be excused.

The Smyth case isn’t just another "churchy" matter. People in authority everywhere are failing to do the right thing to save their own skin, the reputation of their organisation or because it’s just too difficult to face.

Horrendous allegations and situations are swept under the carpet in fear of rocking the boat, whistleblowers squeezed out as ranks close to keep trickly issues "in house."

Or victims are simply ignored. We’re seeing it with the Mohammad Al Fayed allegations.

Institutions should never be self-policing when it comes to safeguarding.

How has the church escaped independent monitoring all these years amid claims of abuse?

The Church of England’s deputy lead bishop, the Bishop of Birkenhead, Julie Conalty, said on BBC Radio 4 this week that she couldn’t guarantee there is not abuse still going on in the church and it is “not a safe institution.”

Church is where you should expect safety.

In an institution already suffering an image and reputation problem, this will be the start of an avalanche of revelations of other blind-eye turners sending the Church of England into a rapid downward spiral of mistrust?

In the last Census of England and Wales, less than half of the population (46.2%, 27.5 million people) described themselves as “Christian”, a 13.1 percentage point decrease from 59.3% (33.3 million) in 201.

Sunday church attendance is just 80 per cent of what it was in 2019, according to analysis by The Telegraph and church attendance has more than halved since 1987, with 300 disappearing the past five years.

The Makin review stated Welby showed a “distinct lack of curiosity” and “a tendency toward minimisation of the matter” when he was told about the Smyth case.

If anything comes out of this sorry situation, it should be to encourage people to take action if a colleague is guilty of wrongdoing or crimes have been committed and listen to victims.

It is interesting that one of the strongest voices has been a female bishop.

Perhaps a woman Archbishop of Canterbury might start to put right the wrongs and restore confidence in an ailing, increasingly broken, church.

Time to spread some happiness

It’s November 15 and fully lit Christmas trees are already in home windows with huge blow up Santas gracing front gardens.

Normally, this would bring out the grinch. But the sight is spirit lifting in such miserable times.

Rather than the usual “not yet, it’s too early” exasperation, a surprising “how lovely. Something to look forward to” feeling came out.

Yesterday, John Lewis released its advert – this year about sibling bonds – which, apparently, had people, including GMB’s Richard Madeley, sobbing.

These ads do wonders for sales, but they are not real life. Huge parties, happy families, gorgeous homes where everyone has enough money to have groaning tables and luxury gifts are make believe.

Don’t let them get to you. It’s about who, not what and how much.

A couple of years ago, sidling up to me in the kitchen on Christmas Eve as I was elbow deep in sausage rolls and sprouts, my elder son said he had been so surprised overhearing women at work grumbling about the crushing responsibilities of the festivities as chief happiness maker by doing all the shopping, cooking, decorating and planning.

“I thought all mums loved it all like you do,” he said, bless him, truly shocked that anyone might find it all a chore and hard work.

I poured myself another mulled wine and toasted my Oscar worthy stellar performance every (bloody) year to make everyone happy.

After all, isn’t that what it’s all about? Spreading a little happiness.

Plan makes sense

The extra hours and always on duty culture that workplaces demand is backfiring.

Civil servants are leading the demand for a four-day week - “one day of chores, one day of fun and one day of rest”, which is “critical to attaining a good quality of life.” Sounds like heaven.

And it makes sense for lower staff turnover and fewer sick days with workers more productive in the four days.