AUSTRALIA
Catholica

by James, Australia, Saturday, February 23, 2013

Everyone is familiar with the story of the struggle between Henry II of England and Thomas a’Becket in England that ended with a’Becket’s murder in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. Ken Follet’s novel, the Pillars of the Earth is narrated around this central event.

The disagreements between a’Becket and Henry were over a number of things, but the most significant was that Henry thought that clergymen who committed murder, robbed or stole, or sexually assaulted children should be dealt with by the secular courts.

At this time, there was a widespread practice called “privilege of clergy” whereby the ecclesiastical courts had exclusive jurisdiction over clergy. A’Becket wanted to preserve this right, and so the conflict. Henry, in a moment of exasperation, famously said, “Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest”, and someone took the hint and despatched the Archbishop of…