Justin Welby

“But we can’t pretend we’re not part of this issue. We’ve got to find ways of taking our share of the load.”

I think this is the most important sentence in his speech. It's a shame it wasn't picked up by the papers, as far as I have read.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/11/justin-welby-immigration-unwanted-friends-archbishop-canterbury

This is a much more sensible review of what he said.

Hmmmm

I really don't think what he said caused the problem, it was the way the Mail, Express and Sun front paged it, without context ofcourse, that stirred the situation, encouraging some readers to believe he agrees with them, when in fact he doesn't......BUT he is a public figure and should be a bit more careful knowing how toxic the atmosphere is around immigration. He may now find he has acquired friends and supporters that he didn't bargain for

Lazigirl, it seems the majority are Christians and Welby is so well known, no matter that on this forum many were rather irritated when he said we should take more refugees .

Wouldn't think of any attempt to try to enlighten you POGS, if you believe the majority know who Welby is so be it

Anniebach you really do imply time and again you think the population of the UK are thick don't you.

Welby will either chime with our thoughts or not I suppose. You either get' what the man says or you don't. Without nasty, puerile comments what has he said that has caused such anxst? So far I only see the upset caused hinges on his using the word ' immigrant ' and daring to speak openly as the Leader of the christian faith Enlighten me as I only read short, sharp non debatable statements for the most part from some repeat posters.

Anniebach You are right on so many points. The general public in the main couldn't give a hoot what JW says, even if they know who he is. It's the news media that picks up on these things and if the right wing papers do not like what he says then the church should not be meddling in politics - ie. when he said that our offer to take 20,000 refugees by 2020, as "very slim" compared to Germany's extraordinary efforts. Conversely in this interview a very small part of what he said regarding immigration, out of context, was seized on by the press, to use no doubt to fit with their own agenda.

Well, this is turning into a somewhat ridiculous slightly boring conversation, with overtones of point scoring! Far better that we agree to differ and leave it at that, so I won't be posting on here again.

I doubt the majority know who he is and his speech last year that we are not giving shelter to enough refugees was derided on this forum and ignored in the country

Yes I do, and while some.people will inevitably think as you say, the majority are intelligent enough to understand perfectly what the Archbishop means. We're a small island, with 60 million people in it. Our infrastructure is under severe strain, which of course is of concern to most people, and for all right minded people of which the Archbishop is one, nothing to do with racism.

Do you nigglenellie? I doubt most people no longer give though to the difference between refugees and immigrants , or should I say bunch of refugees

I think most people understand perfectly what Archbishop Welby means and don't need to have it explained to them in minute detail.

The foreign secretary had no problem with talking of refugees , they will lower our standard of living

Because all debate on immigration was shut down by Tony Blair genuine refugees got lost in the whole debacle.

There is a proposal to build 72 houses in a very small village near here and many people are expressing concerns about this as it will totally change the nature of the village. The people who will inhabit these new houses will not be immigrants in the national sense, so their concerns are not racist.

People fear change and need to have a voice and reassurances; and some power in the debate.

If we do not acknowledge and discuss people's concerns about the effect of large influxes of people on existing communities then there will be no solutions. If people are gagged by the accusation of racism then there will be no way forward, no compromises, no listening, which is needed most of all.

Of course there will be those who use what the archbishop has said for their own evil propaganda; but that should not stop him from saying what is right and opening up a discussion that could help find a way forward.

Pity he didn't stress the difference between immigrants and refugees

Terri well considered words IMO.

I did as it happens know archbishop Fisher many years ago as there is a family connection. The others are easy enough to decipher as their careers are on line for the world to see, and no one other than Archbishop Welby have been attached to anything other than an ecclesiastical life.

No Petra, I believe immigration should be discussed , I do not agree that to discuss it absolves all from being racist . Do you believe all who discuss immigration are not racists ?

Anniebach. I'm assuming that you agreed with Rowantree Williams who said that we were racists if we had a problem with immigration.

Nigglenellie, you know him, you knew previous Arch Bish's

How on earth can anything be resolved if no one is allowed to discuss it?!!

What is your definition of a man of the world?! He's certainly got more idea of what goes on in the outside world than any other archbishop in living memory. You're so right petra, thank goodness we still do have freedom of speech. I've nothing but admiration for Justin Welby.

Anniebach. Are you aware that debate of this subject is being shut down in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Ausria, particulaly in relation to the horrendous sex crimes that are happening in those countries. One reason given is that they are afraid of being called Natzi's. Thank God we still have free speech in this country.

I don't think of him as a man of the world, he was in the city then entered the church