What does this sad news mean for the faithful Catholic layperson (or cleric)?
What's a good Catholic to do when faced with this sort of regular gossipy story from NCR?

Let's listen to the other side for ideas; let's in fact listen to Uncle Screwtape:

“Be not deceived, Wormwood, our cause is never more in jeopardy than when a human, no longer desiring but still intending to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe in which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys.” 
― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

We, thus, remain faithful, we obey fully and completely the teaching of the Church, especially when there's no desire to do so, and, yes, when there's no trace of Him, when we feel forsaken...we cheerfully and confidently obey.   

We ask St Peter what he learned on the boat and in the water that stormy night.