Re 1) To the best of my knowledge, canon law does not say that Catholics MUST follow requests from the local Ordinary, but I am open to correction. 

It is most decidedly not true that "all the liberal supporters of PF are saying that one CANNOT disagree with the pope..." Quite to the contrary, Francis is preoccupied to actualize the V2 call for episcopal collegiality by publicly inviting bishops to speak their minds openly. The CDF under Francis appears to have virtually stopped censoring theologians. In the two synods on the family, more that 50% of the bishops but less that 2/3's voted for allowing remarried practicing couples to receive communion, which Francis had very much wanted. Francis respected the will of less the 50% of the synod by not imposing his will on them, repeating instead the prior prohibition. 

He also mentioned the internal forum which has always been available as a option of the exercise of the primacy of conscience. NOTHING new here. Burke et al. what change.