Did you ever find out anything more about the earring? I thought his response to you was saying no response at all (that is, saying he’d worn it for a many years).
There used to be limits on priestly jewelery, if not exactly canonical, at least traditionally understood. I don’t think an earring would be okay, if only for the unease it’s causing his parishioners. Since your earring-wearing priest is in his 60s, surely he should know that.
Nothing else new....I was on a cruise for the last week, so I didn’t pursue it.....the only good thing is, he’s TEMPORARY!