. If you believe 1John4 in the personal pronoun that means you have the Holy Spirit. A personal confession. You can only say it by the Holy Spirit. I have tested occult person who tried to declare she was Christian. She could not declare that Christ came in the flesh or the creeds that declare also in full. She would stumble or stutter but not declare that part.
Just being a Christian does not mean everybody understands or sees everything in scripture too. Also his mercy is always great. He does not have to be confined to one way. He has shown in scripture where He declares something but shows compassion in another way. Divine Mercy is ultimately God's only to use as He choses in man.
Any ECF's writing about auricular confession in the first 300 years?
Any Apostolic writings detailing priestly absolution?
Can you relate any scriptural instances of auricular confession to a priest, vs forgiveness by Faith in Christ?