I don’t know how idiotic the article is.
I think raising the issue at all has some merit.
Certainly I agree that the hierarchical . . . or herarchical (a typo stumbled onto some truth there, it seems) . . . confessors are not any greater benefit on the whole—to the confessee . . . than another fitting brother or sister would be . . . or deacon or pastor . . .
I think the greater spiritual good is when we confess to those we have offended . . . and/or to our spiritual mentors, close friends, accountability partners etc.
In many respects, it seems to me—confessing to a priest—unconnected with the relationship(s) where the offense(s) originally occurred—in a private little booth—is a bit of a cheap shot at confession.
Kind of allows the confessee to go merrily on his way feeling smugly that he’s covered that base and is once again quite square with God. With the magicsterical’s rubber stamp of approval. While the relationship shredded or hindered or wounded is none the better; not any more restored . . . nor any more truly reconciled.
Confession and repentance are for TURNING AROUND AND GOING GOD’S DIRECTION vs our own willful direction.
I think the RC confessional is likely much better than none. But I don’t think it’s all God expects on that score.
In Orthodoxy you confess face to face with your priest. During confession my priest always asks if you have forgiven everyone from your heart, and if you haven’t he will often instruct you to go make things right.