This is precisely the structure established by Christ for His Church.
Matt. 16:19; 18:18 - the apostles are given Christ's authority to make visible decisions on earth that will be ratified in heaven. God raises up humanity in Christ by exalting his chosen leaders and endowing them with the authority and grace they need to bring about the conversion of all. Without a central authority in the Church, there would be chaos (as there is in Protestantism).
Yes, and when Christ died the veil was rent, meaning the HIGH PREIST was now God himself, which all can come directly too.
I can't find anywhere in the context of scripture where God gives man AUTHOIRITY to forgive sin, or have him to go thru a preist to confess such. The hiearchy of the Catholic church is unscriptural in their current establish, not to say they are bad leaders or leading people astray, just wrong about God's structured council.
The whole point to Christ death and ressurection was so man could go thru Him to seek God, not go thru priest...Remember, "Seek and you shall find" Christ was speaking of himself, not another.