I thought the same thing! Anxious to hear the rationalizations for that one. ;o)
There has already been degree of rationalization attempted for it.
The problem with that rationalization is that it does not *quite* work, not when trying to hold fast to precepts precious & peculiar to Romish-centric (being the OTC, dontcha' know?) 'thought' at the same time(!).
The same ol' same ol', with extra added difficulty?
How long can vacancy exist and there still be spirit (enough?) available -- even readily available ON HAND in order to allegedly 'pass on' by way of laying on of hands the Spirit of the Most High God -- whenever time comes to clear out the false "popes" and their flanker sidemen --to replace them all with the real-deal legitimate? Never mind how Paul was not ordained by any man (or else was quite the liar -- and no one called him on it). Shush, and don't dare try to understand Scripture in any dimensional direction other than in these (the OTC's regular, self-promoting BUt NoW with extra added slathering of sedevacantism secret sauce!) clearly fenced and defined pathways.
Otherwise, from among some of our FRomish Friends (not all of them, we should always bear in mind) it is as I've offered descriptive corollary towards before ---it is as if Christ be held virtual hostage-- it being said no one can rightfully meet with Him save by going through the a priesthood "in communion" with this same Church that interestingly enough also is said (by some, not to be confused with a different *not all* I just had mentioned) to be presently suffering deficiency serious enough that none of a last almost 60 years of doctrinal development is in the least valid.
So now... a ~they~ tell us?
Whatever happened to the likes of;
I mean, what the hey? Things running along lines I've (admittedly, crudely) sketched outline for, above, got ~them~ all the way through the setting into carefully crushed, and sifted through stone (with added concrete binder) two much ballyhooed since inception dogmas (immaculate conception & papal infallibility).
According to some, despite the extra added gyrations and machinations that went into building up that yet more (alleged) example of perfection in "development" ...for reasons both vague and sundry the magic went bye-bye, nothing much left (on highest levels) but placeholders shuffling 'round mucking up the works.
Yet we are commanded to Repent, and Believe (believe in the OTC or go home/hell) while we wait clearer explanation of how that is supposed to work there, at the OTC. What brief explanation was already supplied can have no possibility (no Way, hey-zeus) of applying anywhere else, no possibility of applying to anyone elsewhere (No Exceptions) no possibility it had operated and functioned after a fashion, the Lord supplying His own Spirit, a touch here, a loving guidance there, amid those pesky persons (who won't submit to us!). Those pesky people must Repent and Believe (believe "in" the OTC, or no zeus for you! we laugh when you call us zoup-nazis then cry cry cry how you persecute us so!)
Nope. ~They~ checked, and the hostage is still being held. Just ax ~'dem~ they'll be glad to tell you. They even have it in lozenge form, which is the chiefest Hostage form, dontcha' know? Can't go see the zeus(es) unless regularly receiving said Hostage lozenge but only after having told one's most innermost (and worstest) secrets one won't dare let anyone else know. Must keep up outwards appearances...It would be too embarrassing to go too far into detail about sins that easily (and all too commonly?) plague we mere & lesser than priest-es-es mortals.
...wowza...what a mind-bending system...