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

  

    

       

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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

Quick Links

  • Currents News
  • Magisterium
  • Vulgate
  • VMR Communications
  • DeSales Media Group in the Diocese of Brooklyn
Latest
Pope to visit Spain this year, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and Canary Islands, cardinal says

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Last Week in the Church
Last Week in the Church
Keep Crux Independent
Last Week in the Church with John Allen Jr.

Tuesdays on

Tuesdays on YouTube
Tuesdays on YouTube
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • Spotify
  • Podcast Index
  • Amazon MusicAmazon Music
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • TuneIn

Crux. Anytime. Anywhere.

Today's top stories delivered straight into your inbox.

Comey, Trump and this ‘meddlesome priest’ | Crux
Pope Leo XIV delivers catechesis during his General Audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall on Jan. 7, 2025. (Credit: Vatican Media.)

Pope Leo starts new series of speeches on documents of Vatican II

  • Jan 7
  • Charles Collins
Pope Leo XIV meets Cardinals and Bishops at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (Credit: Alessandra Tarantino/AP.)

Pope convenes cardinals and asks their priorities for 2 years

  • Jan 8
  • Nicole Winfield, 
    Associated Press

Pope says consistory must be free of personal, group ‘agendas’

  • Jan 8
  • Elise Ann Allen
From left, Cardinals Pablo Virgilio Siongco David, Stefen Brislin and Luis Jose Rueda Aparicio arrive at a press conference at the end of Pope Leo XIV's first Extraordinary Consistory, a special formal assembly convening the College of Cardinals from around the world, at the Vatican, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AP.)

Pope indicates new governing style for Catholic Church with regular, annual cardinal meetings

  • Jan 9
  • Nicole Winfield, 
    Associated Press
Pope Leo XIV waves people at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (Credit: Alessandra Tarantino/AP.)

Pope to visit Spain this year, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and Canary Islands, cardinal says

  • Jan 9
  • Nicole Winfield, 
    Associated Press
Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (Credit: Alessandra Tarantino/AP.)

The pope in a major foreign policy address blasts how countries are using force to assert dominion

  • Jan 9
  • Nicole Winfield, 
    Associated Press
Pope Leo meeting with members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See in the Vatican on Jan. 9, 2026. (Credit: Vatican Media.)

Persecution against Christians needs to be addressed, Pope Leo tells Vatican diplomats

  • Jan 9
  • Charles Collins
Pope Leo meeting with members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See in the Vatican on Jan. 9, 2026. (Credit: Vatican Media.)

Families face crucial challenges today, including the right to life, Pope Leo tells diplomats

  • Jan 9
  • Charles Collins
President Donald Trump points to the crowd after speaking to House Republicans in Washington, DC, on Jan. 6, 2026. (Credit: Evan Vucci/AP.)

Trump tells Republicans to be ‘flexible’ on abortion restrictions to get a health care deal

  • Jan 7
  • Bill Barrow, 
    Associated Press
Christopher Hale is a face of the new Catholic Left. (Credit: Christopher Hale.)

As the Catholic Right gains strength, one man is trying to ensure the Catholic Left doesn’t get left behind

  • Jan 6
  • Charles Collins
Brandon Lake in Nashville, Tennessee on Nov. 18, 2025. (Credit: George Walker IV/AP.)

How Christian artists are winning over listeners and entering pop’s mainstream

  • Dec 25, 2025
  • Maria Sherman, 
    Associated Press
The archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, raises his hand while addressing a crowd during a panel on immigration at Georgetown University in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (Credit: Luis Andres Henao/AP.)

White House rebuffs Catholic bishops’ appeal for a Christmas pause in immigration enforcement

  • Dec 25, 2025
  • David Crary, 
    Associated Press