LOL! I was just thinking when I read this - "But after the first year or two [of his reign], the pope apparently stopped trying" - that the pope is somewhat like Celestine V, except that JPII didn't physically resign. He simply absented himself from the disciplinary and administrative parts of his job.
He kept the public relations and "literary" parts of it, and turned into the most prolific writer and dedicated traveler of any pope. But somehow I think those are the least of the duties of the Keeper of the Keys.
He waited the problems out. Gradually, they are resolving themselves by attrition and death and the newer bishops are far more conservative. They are part of the future.
I actually think this is a possitive sign. The article indicates that the hold Bernardin had over the church has faded and that people aren't afraid of Mahoney like they were of Bernardin. The fact that there was even an article addressing the heresy coming from Mahoney is pretty amazing.
"But after the first year or two [of his reign], the pope apparently stopped trying"
If he had been serious about trying, he would have taken a plane to Los Angeles and other places and driven these heretics from the Church by beating them over head with his crozier.
LOL. The 'fun' parts of the job. Truth is, I don't think this Pope has the temperment of a great administrator. That's just my impression. He does love man, though. And probably sees that as the defining element of Catholicsm. Sees himself as the Vicar of Christ, loving Man with the same intensity, as the highest Papal good.
He doesn't seem to be feared at all by the organization's practice setting heirarchy.
There was an article posted here a few weeks ago, by someone who seemed to be very fond of him, who stated that JPII was not fond of ordinary governance. Well, who is? It is a dirty job, but it has to be done. Even a great administrator will be mocked and disobeyed, but when that head administrator embraces the role with half a heart, the stage has been set for extraordinary confusion.
And as my Priest said in Sunday's Sermon, confusion is Satan's biggest ally.