Taking the Catholic Pulse
Sign In
    • Elise Ann Allen
    • Christopher R. Altieri
    • Deirdre Brennan
    • Eduardo Campos Lima
    • Nirmala Carvalho
    • Ngala Killian Chimtom
    • Charles Collins
    • Paterno R. Esmaquel II
    • Fionn Shiner
    • Stephan Uttom Rozario
    • Vatican
    • U.S.
    • UK and Ireland
    • Middle East
    • Americas
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Europe
    • Oceania
    • Interviews
    • News Analysis
    • Videos
    • Podcast
    • Last Week in the Church
  • Support Us
  • About Us
    • Contact Details
    • Advertising

  

    

       

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Crux
© 2026 Crux Now Media, LLC
Privacy & Cookie Policy
CruxTaking the Catholic Pulse
  • About Crux
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising
  • Videos
  • Support Us
Podcast:
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Podcast Index
  • Amazon Music
  • Google Podcasts
  • TuneIn
Latest
US and Iran end ceasefire talks and Vance heads home without an agreement

Comey, Trump and this ‘meddlesome priest’

By Jessica Estepa
Jun 11, 2017
|Religion News Service
Share
Comey, Trump and this ‘meddlesome priest’

Former FBI Director James Comey testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on June 8, 2017. (Credit: Photo courtesy of Reuters/Jonathan Ernst.)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – James Comey likened President Trump’s suggestion to drop the Michael Flynn investigation to an English monarch’s indirect order to kill the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, asked whether Comey interpreted certain phrases  from the president of the United States, such as “I hope” or “I suggest,” as directives.
“Yes. It kind of rings in my ears as, ‘Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?’” Comey replied.

“Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest” #Comey again questioned about his interpretation of ‘hope’ as a directive. pic.twitter.com/VnrH4u9Wly

— ABC News (@abcnews) June 8, 2017

Comey was quoting a well-known saying from Henry II. Back in 1170, the king of England was years into a quarrel with Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, over the rights of the church. Henry II is often quoted as saying, “Will no one rid of me of this turbulent priest?” His men interpreted this as the king wanting Becket dead. Soon after, Becket was assassinated.
Becket was later venerated as a saint:

Thomas Becket went on to become a saint, FYI.

— Carlos Lozada (@CarlosLozadaWP) June 8, 2017

(Estepa writes for USA Today)

Share

Latest Stories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Stories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most Popular

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Keep Crux Independent

Crux. Anytime. Anywhere.

Today's top stories delivered straight into your inbox.

Comey, Trump and this ‘meddlesome priest’ | Crux
Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby meets with Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the then-Papal Nuncio, and his team on January 22, 2026, in the Pentagon. (Credit: Pentagon.)

Vatican denies media spin of envoy meeting at the Pentagon

  • Apr 10
  • Elise Ann Allen
Holy See Press Office. (Credit: Vatican Media.)
Premium

Confessions of a ‘secret source’ from the Vatican

  • Apr 11
  • Charles Collins
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David leads the Easter Vigil at San Roque Cathedral, Caloocan City, April 4, 2026. (Credit: San Roque Cathedral.)

In open letter, Asian cardinal warns Americans of ‘moral failure’ over Iran war

  • Apr 10
  • Paterno R. Esmaquel II
Pope Leo XIV blesses faithful as he starts his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AP.)

A president and a pope: The world’s most influential Americans are at odds over Iran

  • Apr 10
  • Bill Barrow, 
    Associated Press
In this image from video provided by Just Like Me in April 2026, the company’s co-founder and investor Jeff Tinsley, bottom right, interacts with an AI-generated Jesus. (Credit: Just Like Me via AP.)

$1.99 chats with AI Jesus show the faith-based tech boom is here

  • Apr 11
  • Krysta Fauria, 
    Jessie Wardarski, Associated Press
Pope Leo XIV arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)

Flyers fans have faith as run at playoff spot follows family’s jersey gift to Pope Leo XIV

  • Apr 11
  • Dan Gelston, 
    Associated Press
Karen Prewitt of Mission holds a sign reading "Social studies rules" during a rally on the Capitol Mall outside the Barbara Jordan State Office Building, where the State Board of Education meets, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (Credit: Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP.)

Bible stories would be part of a new Texas public schools reading list drawing attention

  • Apr 11
  • Heather Hollingsworth, 
    Associated Press
Pope Leo XIV blesses faithful as he starts his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AP.)

A president and a pope: The world’s most influential Americans are at odds over Iran

  • Apr 10
  • Bill Barrow, 
    Associated Press
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, center, walks with Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Asim Munir, left, and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar after arriving for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Credit: Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via AP.)

US and Iran end ceasefire talks and Vance heads home without an agreement

  • Apr 12
  • Munir Ahmed, 
    Associated Press
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, bishop of the Diocese of Kalookan. (Credit: Roy Lagarde/CBCP News.)
Premium

Filipino Cardinal David: ‘We should not allow faith to sanctify destruction’

  • Apr 12
  • Paterno R. Esmaquel II
Members of the Nigerian army provide security during an event in Minna, Nigeria, Dec. 22, 2025. (Credit: Sunday Alamba/AP.)

Nigerian court convicts more than 300 in mass terrorism trial

  • Apr 12
  • Dyepkazah Shibayan, 
    Associated Press
People cry as they hold hold photos of their missed relatives as Ukrainian soldiers return from captivity during a POW exchange between Russia and Ukraine in Chernyhiv region, Ukraine, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (Credit: Efrem Lukatsky/AP.)

Orthodox Easter truce falters as Ukraine says Russia continues drone strikes

  • Apr 12
  • Derek Gatopoulos, 
    Associated Press