[NYer]

Seems to me the bishop is on pretty solid ground here, though if memory serves, communion was received kneeling during the Tridentine Mass, was it not?

The Second Vatican Council set about restoring some of the more authentic practices from the early church. While I'm not sure at what point in time kneeling replaced standing in the Latin Church, it firmly embedded itself into the liturgy for 500+ years, and was / is viewed as a sign of reverence and respect. From the perspective of a devout Roman Catholic, Bishop Tod is asking them to be disrespectful.

[Kolokotronis]

"From the perspective of a devout Roman Catholic, Bishop Tod is asking them to be disrespectful."

NYer, as you know, I tend to be a bit on the "traditional" side myself! :) But in this case the devout Roman Catholic who believes his/her bishop is telling them to be disrespectful is just plain wrong (I hope!). I don't doubt for a second that kneeling for communion has been around at least 500 years. I'll bet even longer. Its age gives it immense value. But that's the argument to make, not that standing is some modernist, disrespectful innovation.