Father Feeney was a far greater theologian and Church militant than most bishops, cardinals and popes in the Church's history.
Sorry but no. In fact, this statement is scandalous. We look up to the teachings of the popes as the vicar of Christ and the final arbiters of Catholic doctrine. We look up to bishops as the successors of the Apostles, who have the authority to teach the Church and are part of the living magisterium. We look up to the cardinals, similarly, as princes of the Church who are appointed to that position by the pope for their learning and piety. To put one ex-Jesuit priest ahead of most of those people is not a Catholic attitude at all.