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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby says Paris attacks made him question God

The Archbishop of Canterbury has admitted the terror attacks in Paris made him "doubt" the presence of God.

Justin Welby said his reaction to the atrocities was at "first shock and horror and then a profound sadness".

His pain was added to because he and his wife lived in Paris for five years, he said.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby

Speaking to BBC's Songs of Praise, he told how he was left asking why the attacks happened, and where God was in the French victims' time of need.

When questioned about whether the attacks had caused him to doubt where God is, he said: "Oh gosh, yes," and admitted it put a "chink in his armour."

He said: "Yes. Saturday morning - I was out and as I was walking I was praying and saying: 'God why - why is this happening? Where are you in all this?' and then engaging and talking to God. Yes, I doubt."

When asked what his reaction to the attacks was, he said: "Like everyone else - first shock and horror and then a profound sadness - and in my family's case, that is added to because my wife and I lived in Paris for five years.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby

"It was one of the happiest places we have lived and to think of a place of such celebration of life seeing such suffering is utterly heart-breaking."

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