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UK News

Justin Welby hopes he doesn't have to oversee Queen's funeral

by Eno Adeogun

The Most Rev Justin Welby said that while said it will be an "enormous" event and "the most extraordinary historic moment", he hopes someone else will do it.

In an interview with Alastair Campbell for British GQ, the Archbishop was asked if he loses sleep thinking he might be called to preside over the proceedings.

Welby said: "I don't lose sleep and I do hope I don't have to do that.

"...It's enormous whoever does it - God willing someone else - because it is an enormous public event. But as a parish priest, at every funeral you think about the enormity of it."

He added: "I don't want to get into details because it is not something I want to talk about, but the Queen is the most extraordinary person, one of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, in every possible way.

Rev Welby was also asked in the interview, which is published in the November issue of the magazine, if gay sex is a sin.

Declining to answer, the Archbishop said: "Do you know, we have done religion, we have done politics, why am I surprised we are on to gay sex?

"You know very well that is a question I can't give a straight answer to. Sorry, badly phrased there. I should have thought that one through.

"I don't do blanket condemnation and I haven't got a good answer to the question.

"Inherently, within myself, the things that seem to me to be absolutely central are around faithfulness, stability of relationships and loving relationships."

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