The priest is not irrelevant. A good confession is very good for the psyche and the soul, and a good priest can give you good direction to avoid sin in the future. Sinners don't have to be alone, and they can learn that in the big scheme of things, sins that overwhelm and baffle them aren't nearly as bad as they think they are. Priests have heard every sin in the book, and they have lots of experience because of this. They can assure you that things aren't nearly as bad as you think they are. After confession, I almost always feel good about myself.
In Second Kings, chapter 5, the commander of the Syrian army, Naaman, was looking to have his leprosy cured.
God could have just poofed it gone, but He did not because God had a purpose in curing Naaman. So He had the prophet tell Naaman to go dip himself seven times in the Jordan River, and it almost offended Naaman, it was such an easy thing to do to cure his leprosy and he would have done far more....he almost did not go.
God removed the leprosy from Naanam only after Naaman had completely obeyed Gods command and he was raised up the seventh time.
God has told us through the Magisterium and church tradition that if we go to confession our sins will be cleansed, not by the power of the priest, but by faith in God who acts through the priest the same way He worked through the Jordan river to cleanse Naaman.
God has told us to confess our sins to a priest every since Leviticus chapter 5, "if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— 5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. 6 As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering[a]; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin."
In the new testament, in James chapter 5 we are told to "confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
In this sacrament, the priest cures us of our sin by the authority of Jesus Christ to remove the guilt of sin. Whether you are confused about the sin in any way or not, you are guaranteed that your sin will be forgiven and removed.
Rome did not simply make this shit up, folks. IT is an extension of an ancient Hebrew tradition that dates from the earliest times.
There is not one thing heathen, ungodly or unChristian about any of it.