They are atheists who are too chickens--t to admit it.
I expect that’s probably true of the subject of the article, but I also think there are people who sincerely believe that, when they die, God will listen to them sing, “I did it my way!” and respond, “That’s all I ever wanted.”
Msgr. Pope at the Archdiocese of Washington had a post this week about “stubborn impenitence.” For some people, nothing is more important that their assertion that, “I don’t have to do what anyone tells me.” Quite a few are teenagers, but not all.