[NYer]

only God can forgive me of my sins

That is correct and, according to Scripture, He does so through the priesthood that He commissioned.

as the Father sent me, so I send you - John 20:21

"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
John 20:23

How do we know this to be true? As freeper Quix commented above:

BECAUSE

GOD
DOES
NOT
LIE!
AND
HE
SAYS
WHAT
HE MEANS!
AND HE SAYS WHAT HE MEANS
SUFFICIENTLY CLEARLY--
PARTICULARLY ON THE ESSENTIALS--
THAT A CHILD
CAN UNDERSTAND.

[Alamo-Girl]

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as [it is] in heaven. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. – Matthew 6:9-15

[Proud2BeRight]

Although I may consult with clergy when I need spiritual comfort, I will continue to communicate directly with God and avoid the money-collecting, potential sinning middleman priest out of the transaction. Cut out the middleman and the message being communicated gets less distorted.

[Quix]

Well, Dear Heart,

clearly those very . . . wedded . . . to the RC edifice vs others of us will likely continue to disagree on what

SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR

precisely means in a number of instances.

But I thought that the verse on forgiveness of sins by Christ was rather starkly clear and emphatic.