As a third party observer, it sounds like those protesting the Bishop are the real liberals. In the Western Rite of the Roman Catholic Church (this is a Catholic dispute, right?), priests serve at the pleasure of the bishop. To attempt to change this would be the "liberal" effort. Any parishioners who are protesting this, especially to the point of pressuring catechumens to pervert their sacrament of confirmation, are the real liberals.
That said, I will pray for all involved.