Would you kiss a Bishop's Ring?

The Hill Billy

The Bishop of Kerry has said that he was embarrassed & uneasy about kissing the Pope's ring recently. (See Indo article.) Said Bishop also mentions that people still try to kiss his ring too.

Surely kissing the Pope's ring would be one of the greatest things that a Catholic could do.

If you are (or were) a Catholic at what level in the clergy would you stop kissing rings?

petes

What a question for AH!! :pac:

And no.

stovelid

I just stick with traditional forelock tugging. Rings can carry germs. What if he had been fisting his housekeeper before you kissed it?

Biggins

Stop?
I wouldn't start.
End of story.

Hagar

Not even if he used a medicated wet wipe.

Wazdakka

Durrrty..

ToniTuddle

Hell no.

Paulyh

Only if he kissed mine first........and didnt have a beard.

3qsmavrod5twfe

Hill Billy wrote: »

The Bishop of Kerry has said that he was embarrassed & uneasy about kissing the Pope's ring recently. (See Indo article.) Said Bishop also mentions that people still try to kiss his ring too.

Surely kissing the Pope's ring would be one of the greatest things that a Catholic could do.

If you are (or were) a Catholic at what level in the clergy would you stop kissing rings?

Would you put your finger in someone else's ring?

*snigger*, ring!

GavRedKing

I would, only for Bishop Lenn Brennan. :pac:

stovelid

Paulyh wrote: »

Only if he kissed mine first........and didnt have a beard.

What year in school are you in? Send a photo of yourself in hot-pants and you might get lucky?

Abi

Don't call me Len, you little bollix!

Gulliver

It would have to be shaved and disinfected. Also, how much would I get paid? :P

Not a chance.. I wouldn't even walk down to the kitchen if the pope was sitting there.

We are talking about arseholes here?

Wossack

maybe

would draw the line at a rusty trumpet though

Dont be at yourself

With or without tongue?

Victor

Deleted User wrote: »

We are talking about arseholes here?

Not quite, no.

Kasabian

Having had the experience of kissing a bishops ring when I was very young I must admit that it has caused me untold stress and pain ever since. The feelings of disgust and embarressment have stayed with me to this day , I try to tell myself that it wasn't my fault that I was young and knew no different , I was coherst into this action by my parents devotion to the church , I was just a pawn.


To this day I have never knelt before another man or kissed his ring and I never will.

Paulyh

stovelid wrote: »

What year in school are you in? Send a photo of yourself in hot-pants and you might get lucky?

i left school in '98...............i could try and squeeeeeeeze into my old uniform. It'll be nice and tight, if i move the arse will split for easy access......like this!!!

bonerm

Did we (generally) have to kiss a bishops ring back when we made our confirmation? I definetly remember there being a bishop at my confo but I can't remember if my wet innocent young lips touched his ring? Perhaps I've repressed the memory.

Victor

Victor wrote: »

Not quite, no.

The internet has ruined me..

Pompey Magnus

bonerm wrote: »

Did we (generally) have to kiss a bishops ring back when we made our confirmation? I definetly remember there being a bishop at my confo but I can't remember if my wet innocent young lips touched his ring? Perhaps I've repressed the memory.

I'm pretty sure I didn't and as for the OP, no chance would I kiss the ring of any bloke in a dress.

Elenxor

Eeeee Oooooh!!!

pikachucheeks

I presume this is Catholic thing? I've never been asked to kiss any rings...


*snigger*

Lux23

No way.

prinz

No I would not. Niether would I call him Your Excellency or Worship or whatever it is they go by sometimes.

bonerm

Charco wrote: »

I'm pretty sure I didn't and as for the OP, no chance would I kiss the ring of any bloke in a dress.

Well I was just a young lad at the time. If the bishop had asked me to get down on my knees and kiss his ring then I'd probably not have thought it that strange.

Elenxor

pikachucheeks wrote: »

I presume this is Catholic thing? I've never been asked to kiss any rings...


*snigger*

You never had a man in a frock and matching hat and gloves approach you with his hand out....what a sheltered life you have had!!!!

testicle

gavredking wrote: »

I would, only for Bishop Lenn Brennan. :pac:

Don't call me Lenn!

pikachucheeks

Elenxor wrote: »

Poor Peeks...what a sheltered life you must had had.

If only you knew! :pac:

In all seriousness, it must be a Catholic thing. A lot of my family are / were members of clergy of another religion and I've never heard of kissing rings.

prinz

pikachucheeks wrote: »

In all seriousness, it must be a Catholic thing. A lot of my family are / were members of clergy of another religion and I've never heard of kissing rings.

More of an Irish Catholic thing tbh. My OH is a German Catholic and nearly fell to the floor laughing when I asked if she had kissed a Bishop's ring. The practice is unheard of in her family.

pikachucheeks

prinz wrote: »

More of an Irish Catholic thing tbh. My OH is a German Catholic and nearly fell to the floor laughing when I asked if she had kissed a Bishop's ring. The practice is unheard of in her family.

Interesting! Maybe it's something to do with showing respect towards clergy?

I'm going to ask a bishop I know about this ... He's always on Facebook! :pac:

hinault

prinz wrote: »

More of an Irish Catholic thing tbh. My OH is a German Catholic and nearly fell to the floor laughing when I asked if she had kissed a Bishop's ring. The practice is unheard of in her family.

I kissed the Pope's ring!

Fisherman's ring to be more precise.

bonerm

Are you allowed to kiss a nun's ring?

Victor

That would be an ecumenical matter.

prinz

pikachucheeks wrote: »

Interesting! Maybe it's something to do with showing respect towards clergy?

Respect me arse. Here they just loved prancing around the place acting like royalty up on high. The ring kissing was just another measure to put themselves over everyone else, like some medieval lord.

For example I met my OH's local bishop in Germany and he was in lay dress, walking around chatting and laughing, had great English, my OH went to introduce us, but he went for the handshake and told me to call him by his first name.. no airs and graces whatsoever. I didn't even know he was a bishop until after he'd gone. He got my instant and utmost respect.

Maybe the reformation just had a better effect on the Catholic church over there.

flowersagogo

foreplay?

Elenxor

bonerm wrote: »

Are you allowed to kiss a nun's ring?

Yes!! and yo have to call her Sister!!
Now THAT would be an ecumenical matter!!!

pikachucheeks

prinz wrote: »

Respect me arse. Here they just loved prancing around the place acting like royalty up on high. The ring kissing was just another measure to put themselves over everyone else, like some medieval lord.

I didn't want to offend anyone by saying something like that! :P But yeah, I agree with you.
I'd suspect that the kissing rings idea is to get people to show their respect for the priests and to give the priests themselves a sense of entitlement.

It's a very ... intimate thing to do, I think. I wouldn't be comfortable doing it.

It's also been known for people to come up and bless themselves against members of clergy.

prinz wrote: »

For example I met my OH's local bishop in Germany and he was in lay dress, walking around chatting and laughing, had great English, my OH went to introduce us, but he went for the handshake and told me to call him by his first name.. no airs and graces whatsoever.

That seems more like what I'm used to! I don't like this idea of putting clergy on a pedestal. They're normal people too (for the most part).

Elenxor

flowersagogo wrote: »

foreplay?

grooming?

hinault

prinz wrote: »

Respect me arse. Here they just loved prancing around the place acting like royalty up on high. The ring kissing was just another measure to put themselves over everyone else, like some medieval lord.

For example I met my OH's local bishop in Germany and he was in lay dress, walking around chatting and laughing, had great English, my OH went to introduce us, but he went for the handshake and told me to call him by his first name.. no airs and graces whatsoever. I didn't even know he was a bishop until after he'd gone. He got my instant and utmost respect.

Maybe the reformation just had a better effect on the Catholic church over there.

I agree.
I think the Irish RCC needs to be less formal.
The bestowal of titles and genuflecting in front of Bishops and Cardinals is crazy.

As a practising RC, I would like to see a less formal way of greeting these people.
handshake shoudl suffice.

Bishop Diarmuid Martin insists on people referring to him as Diarmuid or Dermot.
Welcome change.

prinz

pikachucheeks wrote: »

I didn't want to offend anyone by saying something like that! :P But yeah, I agree with you.
I'd suspect that the kissing rings idea is to get people to show their respect for the priests and to give the priests themselves a sense of entitlement..

No I wasn't offended Respect has to be earned IMO anyway. I don't give it automatically and unconditionally and I say that as a lapsed Catholic returning to the faith. I will never stoop to kiss a ring again.

pikachucheeks wrote: »

That seems more like what I'm used to! I don't like this idea of putting clergy on a pedestal. They're normal people too (for the most part).

+1

flowersagogo

Elenxor wrote: »

grooming?

only stroking.

star.chaser

i'd kiss Leilani Bishops ring

Bolag_the_2nd

bonerm wrote: »

Are you allowed to kiss a nun's ring?

only if your a bishop!!!!

Teddy Chips

Such a superp thread title. Well done. To answer your question I wouldn't kiss his ring and the associated guilt that comes with it.

BennyLava

Not a bishop

how about a nun

http://beconfused.com/images/2007/05/Nacho-Libre-Sister-Encarnacion-looks-pretty-here.jpg

witty_name

No.

Couldn't bring myself to do it. It'd be praising an organisation I completely disagree with.

thegen

Bishops ring, and still no mention of the Canon's balls:D

pikachucheeks

thegen wrote: »

Bishops ring, and still no mention of the Canon's balls:D

Hey! It takes balls to be a Canon ... They're the only member of the clergy who can be fired! :pac:

the_syco

Hill Billy wrote: »

Surely kissing the Pope's ring would be one of the greatest things that a Catholic could do.

Gives ass kissing an entirely new meaning!