They are indeed - but in all honesty I think the whole thing has a life of its own, and none of them an stop what it is doing. That's worrying!
Take away the middle-man - whether he be Rome of Jerusalem or Brooklyn or Salt-Lake City - and you take away an immense blockage, just as our Lord described those who close the gates of the Kingdom to others yet do not go in themselves.
Religions warn that evil spirits might divert those who are not guided by religion, but those approaching with a sincere heart will at least have a sincere heart - they have no free will if they follow a church. and their heart is placed in a box. Far far better to turn to God ourselves and let that sincere heart bring God's guidance than to relinquish all that it is to a third party.