No. We do not believe that. Categorically, absolutely not. There is no way to earn God's grace...as a matter of fact the word itself in Latin indicates that it is a free gift...*gratia*.
This from the Council of Trent:
ON JUSTIFICATIONChrist said to the Apostles in John 20: whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained. Doesn't that sound to you like He intended God's forgiveness to be mediated through the Church?CANON I.-If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema.
No, only through/in the name of Christ.... The book of Acts is clear in this regard, never did the desiciples forgive outside of in Christ’s name...
Man is sinful, He cannot absolve absolutely with He himself having a sinful nature... it would make Christ’s sacrifice worthless... where we would no longer be condemned by law... which required a sinles sacrifical gift for our cleansing...
Christ was made our intercessor... nothing states that you need to, or must, be forgiven by a priest to find forgiveness....
Christ on many occassions asks for us to come to Him... and He will bring it to the father... there needs to be no intercessor to Him... and through Him... to the Father...