The Bishop is coming to my home and wondering if it is tradition to kiss his ring when visiting the sick in their home.

-- Norma Rusling (psnormis@aol.com), February 23, 2001

Answers

Dear Norma,
Don't kiss his ring, just shake his hand and nod your head in respect. Nowadays at least some of the clergy do not appreciate these displays. If you do so, he'll likely feel a little embarrassed. My sister once committed a striking faux pas, as she greeted our local bishop. She was nervous, and addressed him as ''Your Bishop''! Lol! Nobody ever lets her forget that!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), February 23, 2001.

Jmj

Hi, Norma.
Eugene, I came across the following words of a Monsignor from an Eastern U.S. diocese. He agrees with you -- as long as you are talking about certain parts of the world:
"... I would say that it depends where you are in the world. In southern European, South American, Asian, and African countries, the custom remains to address a Bishop as 'Your Excellency,' ... and to reverence his ring upon first meeting him. In North American, Northern Europe, and the member nations of the British Commonwealth, the practice has become to address a Bishop in speech as 'Bishop' and to shake his hand."
God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), February 23, 2001.