Assessing the Attempted Elections and the Resultant Claimants
As already noted, and the facts must be known to the majority within the Traditionalist Movement, there have been at least three separate attempts at a Lay Election and resulting in three papal claimants, who are, in chronic order of their claims: Mr. David Bawden as Pope Michael 1, Fr. Lucian Pulvermacher as Pope Pius 13 and Fr. Victor von Pentz as Pope Linus 2.
I have demonstrated, I believe, that a lay election, such as those that resulted in these claimants, is certainly possible from the viewpoint of orthodoxy and possesses, if properly organised, certain legitimacy.
Now, therefore, how do we relate to these papal claimants or purported popes Michael 1, Pius 13 and Linus 2?
It is obvious that there can be only one legitimate pope at any given time. Therefore, we are required to presume that the first of these electees is the true and legitimate claimant of our obedience as the pope and Vicar of Christ, given that his election was properly organised.
I have examined the claim of each of the three parties, and I believe that all of them are defective in different ways.
For my treatment of them see here
Prakash J. Mascarenhas
David Bawden aka Pope Michael the First
The Sad Mis-Adventures of David Bawden & Teresa Benns
Victor von Pentz aka Pope Linus the Second
The Victor von Pentz Papal Claim
Lucian Pulvermacher aka Pope Pius the Thirteenth The Lucian Pulvermacher Papal Claim