First of all, why are you giving any credence whatsoever to a liberal writing for the liberal New York Times? The article itself is preposterous.
Second, if you think that Pope JP I was a tree hugging liberal you are mistaken. An honest analysis of his life and writings reveal a moderate ideology and a man of honest and integrity.
Anyone who is familiar with mystical theology and certain Biblical texts would understand his statement. In Genesis we are told that man and woman were created in God's image. In the Books of Wisdom and Sirach, Wisdom from God is assigned a feminine nature. It is completely logical to deduce that God has qualities of both male and female. Many mystics have written things which caused scandal to the unenlightened. Once one gets to that level of Divine union it is difficult to relate or be understood on the ordinary level.