I think you are a little bit confused about what we are doing here. When you were posting incorrect assumptions about the Catholic Church, I was happy to correct you and educate you. If you are going to make sarcastic assumptions, I'm not all that interested in helping you. I'm not particularly interested in comparing doctrines, though I'm sure you'll find others on FR who are. The Scriptural basis for the role of priests is well documented. You can either accept it or not. The Catholic position is that Christ only gave his Disciples the power to witness his remission of sin. The priest is there not to absolve sins, but as a witness. The confession is to God, not the priest. And the act of confession is definitely more sincere when it is made in front of another human being. The priest is by no means a "middleman." Glad I could clear that one up for you too.
Not being sarcastic, just providing an ‘outsider’s’ viewpoint.
The Holy Bible says that when Jesus was crucified, the veil was torn in half in the Temple, a symbol that mankind no longer had to go through *anyone* else to receive redemption and forgiveness of sins. Everything I’ve ever heard or seen over the years concerning the Catholic Church is that there is a requirement that members go to confession and if they don’t they should feel really, REALLY guilty about it. In my faith, none of that is necessary, period. I ‘walk’ straight up to Jesus in my prayers, hug His neck, and He comforts me. No middleman needed. :*)
and
Absolution proper is that act of the priest whereby, in the Sacrament of Penance, he frees man from sin. New Advent