It does still seem to me as though the Roman Catholic Church is saying that a penitant must never ever confess his or her sins directly to God, and that doing so is completely without effect. In other words, it appear that the Roman Catholic Church is saying that God will not hear prayers of people who want to confess their sins directly to Him, and that God will not forgive any sin that is confessed directly to Him.
"1456 Confession to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament of Penance."
"1461 Since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of reconciliation,65 bishops who are their successors, and priests, the bishops' collaborators, continue to exercise this ministry. Indeed bishops and priests, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, have the power to forgive all sins "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Doesn't that mean that God will not hear a confession made directly to Him?
And so wouldn't that also mean that, as I posted in post #44, that the Roman Catholic Church is teaching that "Christ, in John 20:21-23, is saying, "I command you, my followers, never to confess your sins to Me or to my Father who is in Heaven. You must, instead, confess your sins to this group of ordained human beings who have the authority and power to forgive sins -- and only to them. When you pray, never ever confess your sins to me or to my Father. Such prayers are of no value to you, and I will not hear them. Instead, you must confess to a human being."