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
Comey, Trump and this ‘meddlesome priest’ | Crux

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

2026 Papal Trip to Africa

Latest Stories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Stories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most Popular

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Keep Crux Independent

Crux. Anytime. Anywhere.

Today's top stories delivered straight into your inbox.

Latest
In Bamenda, Leo XIV delivers impassioned appeal for peace
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington. (Credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP.)

Trump continues his social media attacks on Pope Leo

  • Apr 15
  • Crux Now Staff
President Donald Trump outside the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. on April 4, 2026. (Credit: Alex Brandon/AP.)

Trump says he won’t apologize to Pope Leo and explains his reason for posting much-criticized meme

  • Apr 14
  • Will Weissert, 
    Josh Boak, Associated Press
Pope Leo XIV meets the Algerian Community in the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers, Monday, April 13, 2026, on the first day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)

Many US Catholics are dismayed by Trump’s unprecedented broadside at the first American pope

  • Apr 14
  • David Crary, 
    Peter Smith, Associated Press
Premium

In Easter letter to cardinals, Leo sets the tone and the agenda

  • Apr 15
  • Christopher R. Altieri
Pope Leo XIV visits the Grand Mosque in Algiers
Pope Leo XIV visits the Grand Mosque in Algiers
Meeting with authorities and the diplomatic corps.
Mass in the Basilica of St Augustine in Annaba (April 14)
People greet Pope Leo XIV upon his arrival in Yaounde, Cameroon, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, on the third day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa. (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)
Pope Leo XIV in Africa
Pope Leo XIV in Africa
Pope Leo XIV in Africa
Faithful attend a meeting for peace, lead by Pope Leo XIV at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, with the local community Thursday, April 16, 2026, on the fourth day of his 11-day pastoral visit to Africa. (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)

In Bamenda, Leo XIV delivers impassioned appeal for peace

  • Apr 16
  • Elise Ann Allen
Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Cameroon's President Paul Biya during the meeting with the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps in Yaounde Cameroon, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)

What to know about Cameroon’s separatist violence that the pope seeks to end

  • Apr 16
  • Nalova Akua, 
    Chinedu Asadu, Associated Press
Pope Leo XIV, with the Archbishop of Bamenda Andrew Nkea Fuanya, left, leads a meeting for peace at Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, with the local community Thursday, April 16, 2026, on the fourth day of his 11-day pastoral visit to Africa. (Credit: Andrew Medichini/AP.)

Pope blasts ‘tyrants’ ravaging the Earth during his visit to Cameroon

  • Apr 16
  • Nicole Winfield, 
    Nalova Akua, Associated Press
A man prays during Catholic Mass at Benedictine College, Oct. 29, 2023, in Atchison, Kan. (Credit: Charlie Riedel/AP.)

What a new Gallup poll shows about young men’s religious revival

  • Apr 16
  • Deepa Bharath, 
    Associated Press
A man prays during Catholic Mass at Benedictine College, Oct. 29, 2023, in Atchison, Kan. (Credit: Charlie Riedel/AP.)

What a new Gallup poll shows about young men’s religious revival

  • Apr 16
  • Deepa Bharath, 
    Associated Press
President Donald Trump greets Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during summit to support ending the more than two-year Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal, Oct. 13, 2025, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. (Credit: Evan Vucci/Pool via AP.)

After criticizing the pope, Trump slams Italy’s Meloni over lack of support for Iran war

  • Apr 16
  • Colleen Barry, 
    Associated Press
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington. (Credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP.)

Trump continues his social media attacks on Pope Leo

  • Apr 15
  • Crux Now Staff
Vice President JD Vance speaks during a Turning Point USA event at Akins Ford Arena at the Classic Center in Athens, Ga., Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP.)

As Vance rallies with Turning Point, some supporters bristle at Trump’s war, attack on Pope Leo

  • Apr 15
  • Bill Barrow, 
    Emilie Megnien, Associated Press