ACCORDING to Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury and head of the global Anglican Communion, there are times when "fear is a valid emotion." He is quoted as using that rather unexpected turn of phrase twice, in two different contexts, in the course of an interview with The House, a publication which follows parliamentary affairs. (Among his many functions, Mr Welby has a place in the legislature; as head of the Church of the England he is one of the Anglican bishops or "lords spiritual" who sit in parliament's upper chamber.)
In the archbishop's view, it was legitimate to feel fear in the face of the British electorate's looming decision over the European Union: "...fear of what happens if we leave, fear of what happens if we stay." More controversially, he felt that nervousness was a reasonable response to the wave of refugees fleeing across Europe. "Fear is a valid emotion at a time of such colossal crisis. This is one of the greatest movements of people in human history. And to be anxious is very reasonable. Fear is justified...I would not want to criticise that for a moment, but so is hope fully justified because we have the capacity [to respond].
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