The term, "father", is just a title - we don't think he's literally our father let alone out Heavenly one, God forbid.

Confession was born out of this verse :
"If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
John 20:23
However, we believe that confessing our sins privately to God/Jesus/Holy Spirit in prayer at any time, our sins are indeed forgiven. As a congregation, we ask God for forgiveness of our sins during the Mass.

Praying to Mary and the saints - I don't believe in doing that and I've been a Catholic my whole life.
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,"
1 Timothy 2:5
However, it's common to ask a friend or family member to pray for us, so asking Mary and the saints is doing the same, so I never shun anyone who does this.
Besides, the Mass and foundation of our faith is solidly built around Jesus as it should be.

Not all Catholic priests do such pure evil things to children - far from it - only a tiny minority - and they need to be in jail - period.
All Christian faiths have had leaders in them who have done the same to children.
Beyond appalling, but comforting to know that the vast majority of church leaders in all Christian faiths are outstanding examples of what it means to be a Christian although not perfect - no one is except Jesus of course.

This is the Nicene Creed [ best version in my opinion ]
written in 325 AD and is said during all Masses, by all of the congregation aloud together - in all liturgical churches; Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Greek Orthodox, etc.
And no, not one has a problem with the word, "catholic" in it - as it simply means, "universal".


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We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he was born of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in fulfilment of the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.