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"I've been led to believe that your priests while in the confessional are actually God speaking... "

It sounds like you do not believe that God often chooses imperfect, weak, and frail humans as instruments to communicate for Him.

Not one single book in the Bible (Old Testament or New Testament) was physically written by Jesus, or was even written during the years that Jesus Christ walked on this Earth in His humanity.

Do you believe that God, in God's infinite wisdom and power, chose an imperfect, weak, and frail human being to be the instrument to communicate for God by writing the "Gospel of Matthew", rather than just God physically writing it directly Himself?

Do you believe that God, in God's infinite wisdom and power, chose an imperfect, weak, and frail human being to be the instrument to communicate for God by writing the "Gospel of Mark", rather than God just physically writing it directly Himself?

Do you believe that God, in God's infinite wisdom and power, chose an imperfect, weak, and frail human being to be the instrument to communicate for God by writing the "Gospel of Luke", rather than God just physically writing it directly Himself?

Do you believe that God, in God's infinite wisdom and power, chose an imperfect, weak, and frail human being to be the instrument to communicate for God by writing the "Gospel of John", rather than God just physically writing it directly Himself?

Do you believe that God, in God's infinite wisdom and power, chose imperfect, weak, and frail human beings to be the instruments to communicate for God by writing the Epistles and all the other Books of the New Testament, rather than God just physically writing them directly Himself?

Do you believe that God, in God's infinite wisdom and power, chose imperfect, weak, and frail human beings to be the instruments to communicate for God by writing the all the Books of the Old Testament, rather than God just physically writing them directly Himself?

In other words, God could have chosen to physically write the whole Bible directly Himself, without the assistance of any human whatsoever, but instead, God chose, in God's infinite power. wisdom, and Sovereign Holy Will, to use imperfect, weak, frail human beings as instruments to communicate for God, in EVERY SINGLE Book in the Bible, both the Old Testament, and New Testament. Not one single Book in the Bible was written without God making use of some human being, as an instrument to communicate for God by physically writing that Book (NO EXCEPTIONS).

Now, seriously, does that sound like a God who does NOT choose quite often to communicate through imperfect, weak, frail human instruments? (Please consider that question honestly, carefully, and prayerfully in your heart (for your own sake), after all the contentious discussion is completely finished on this thread.)

We don't need to confess to priests when we can go right to God Himself.

Luke 11:1-4 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

“ Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,...

Hebrews 4:14-16 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Now, seriously, does that sound like a God who does NOT choose quite often to communicate through imperfect, weak, frail human instruments?

You are obviously trying to rely on your human wisdom and common sense instead of seeking the truth in God's word, the scriptures...

There are 3 people in the Trinity...The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit...The Father is seated, right now in Heaven...Jesus is seated at his right hand...They do not leave Heaven...

The last one is the Holy Spirit who resides at the moment on planet earth...

Jesus is not indwelling anyone, including any Catholic priests...The one who indwells people is the Holy Spirit...And those who are indwelt with the Holy Spirit are as close to God as any priest, bishop or pope has ever been or ever will be...

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

And if we listen to the words of Jesus,

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus did not say to come to a priest...Or Mary...Or a Saint...Jesus said, Come unto me and I will give you rest...Not Mary, not a priest and not a pope...

And then God's written words say,

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

And the throne of grace is not in a confessional asking a priest for forgiveness...And the throne of grace is not Mary...

I have a laser straight and faster than the speed of light cable connection with the one who created all that there is...And you want me to waste my time with some sinner like myself hoping he will forgive my sins???

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

I don't buy into your self perceived wisdom...Why, a man would be a fool to trust his eternal salvation to another man who claims to be Jesus...I could post scripture all day long refuting your human philosophy...