There is something to this. When transportation and communication was much slower, did people pay so much attention to their bishop?
While the cardinal rightly focuses on the personal spiritual aspects, there are also structural consequences of this mindset.
One English writer, Carlyle perhaps, held that one genius aspect of the Catholic Church is its ability to incorporate both the "establishment," bishops, and the "insurgent life" in the form of the religious orders.
At present perhaps we expect our bishops to act like insurgents, when in fact that is not their charism. Combine a governing official with insurgency, and you're in trouble!
Rather, the revival of the religious orders is needed. That is the natural home for insurgency and revival. Right now we see the bad aspects of corrupt orders: they preach against the faith for the benefit of worldly concerns with little rebuke from their superiors or the local bishop.
If they were faithful, this same structure would enable them to preach the faith in opposition to worldly concerns, especially where the local bishop himself is lax.
(Side note: does anybody recall an account posted here on FR of a theology on tap event where Cardinal George (?) predicted major anti-Christian persecution within 10 years? I think it was posted in 2002-2003.