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.
I know the head of the CCD program. She was surprised to hear them announce to her while they were waiting to go over to the church for the Confirmation that they had all decided to take the name Stephen. There was no pressure from any of us. I didn't know about it until afterwards. And I was one of the organizers.
Yes, that is true but bishops are also held to account when it comes to Canon Law. The are not supposed to be petty dictators.
Look for the "parish organizations". You will see that we are not a liberal parish.
We are in fact considered the most conservative large parish in the whole diocese.