Honestly, I suspect the average Catholic isn't even aware of the Vatican silencing theologians, or most of the other issues we read about and discuss here.  The Catholic whose only contact with the Vatican is what they hear in church on Sunday isn't going to hear a homily on why Father So-and-so, Sister This-and-that, or Professor Whatever have been ordered to be quiet or why their theology is "wrong."  And the Catholic who's stopped attending isn't likely interested one way or the other.

The bishop complaining about the laity isn't going to make much impact on the ones who've walked away, and the ones who stay, well, they may not be paying much attention anyway because they don't see it applying to them.