July 15, 1990
Kenneth Mock and the Papal Election
Early afternoon on July 15th, 1990, I was with some others in teh Saint Marys Park taking a break after the preparations for the Papal Election. We had professed our faith as prescribed in the Summons and in Will the Catholic Church Survive the Twentieth Century? The summons asked all to sign the affixed declaration, submit their Profession of Faith and come to the election. The book had also advised the curriculum vitae and Baptism certificate be submitted as well.We were informed that two potential electors had arrived, so we proceeded home to meet them. They were the ex-CMRI priest Patrick Henry and Kenneth J. Mock. Patrick Henry had departed the CMRI doubting the validity of his ordination. Ken Mock wanted to discuss things with Teresa Benns, Patrick Henry and myself. So we proceeded to Belvue, the place where the election was scheduled to be held. As we departed for Belvue, Ken Mock pointed to Patrick and reminded me that he was a priest. Neither Patrick Henry nor Ken Mock provided any proof of Catholicity nor did they offer to profess their Faith as required by Canon Law. Also despite being summoned, neither had given any indication of coming. Instead Ken Mock wished to proceed to discussion, which was inconsequential. We returned to Saint Marys for dinner and after dinner Ken Mock, Patrick Henry, Teresa Benns and I retired to my library in order to continue discussions. Mock did not invite any of the other electors to attend. Here Mock raised his objections. His first was that we were proceeding too fast. Both Teresa and I objected that three decades was certainly not hasty and that we had been working together on this for almost three years and others for far longer than that. Also this had been discussed world-wide for a long time. The second objection raised was that we needed to have a priest absolve us from our excommunications for material heresy. And so I asked Ken to name a priest, who was empowered to absolve us. He could not and did not. I stated that an impossible law did not oblige. I further stated that Pope Pius XII's election law specifically allowed excommunicates to vote. Further I explained that we had done all we could, abjuring our heresies and Professing our Faith in teh presence of witnesses as outlined in the book. We discussed for a while, and Mock continued insisting on a priest absolving us. Never did he point to Patrick Henry and say: Let's get Fr. Henry to absolve us. I explained that Canon 2314 was abundantly clear, reserving such absolution to the Pope or the Local Ordinary. Patrick Henry appeared lost in all of this discussion, which continued for some time. I had to forcefully bring Mock back to the point, and ask him where there was someone who could absolve us. Finally I went through the reasoning. We all committed material heresy for our participation in the Novus Ordo and in the Traditionalist heresies. We required to be reconciled to the Church. Such reconciliation is reserved to the Pope and by extension of Canon 2314 tot he Local Ordinary. Not only was there no Pope, but there was no Local Ordinary anywhere that we could find and approach. Thereofre the law was impossible. However, this ordinarily would prohibit us from participating in an election. The Papacy shall last to the end of time, which is the de fide definition of the Vatican Council. But we are barred from electing? Basically we need a Pope to reconcile us with the Church so we can elect, but we have no Pope. The law was impossible, so we did all we could, following the principle of the Perfect Act of Contrition, leaving the rest to the Pope to be elected soon, possibly the next day. The conversation ended with Ken Mock sayin that he and Patrick would think on things and would decide whether to participate in the election in the morning. They had the timed from the summons and Election Update.Upon arriving at hte place of election on July 16, I found a message from Ken Mock stating that he and Patrick Henry would not be participating in the election. By David Bawden
Note Patrick Henry has been asked to testify to these events, but has refused to do so. 
Michael Fighting
