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I don’t understand the difference of a priest giving absolution for sins and Yeshua dying on the Cross for them. Either Yeshua died for our sins or He didn’t and therefore the need for a priest to do that?

Mrs. Don-o and Bayard have posted excellent responses. To what they have said, I would add the following. Is the Catholic who confesses his sins to a priest any better off than the non-Catholic who confesses directly to God? Yes. First, he seeks forgiveness the way Christ intended. Second, by confessing to a priest, the Catholic learns a lesson in humility, which is avoided when one confesses only through private prayer. Third, the Catholic receives sacramental graces the non-Catholic doesn’t get; through the sacrament of penance sins are forgiven and graces are obtained. Fourth, the Catholic is assured that his sins are forgiven (John 20:21–23); he does not have to rely on a subjective "feeling." Lastly, the Catholic can also obtain sound advice on avoiding sin in the future.

During his lifetime Christ sent out his followers to do his work. Just before he left this world, he gave the apostles special authority, commissioning them to make God’s forgiveness present to all people, and the whole Christian world accepted this, until just a few centuries ago. If there is an "invention" here, it is not the sacrament of penance, but the notion that the sacramental forgiveness of sins is not to be found in the Bible or in early Christian history.

And, I am not disputing whether or not we as believers should or should not confess sins to each other. Clearly, James 5:16 says as much. BUT, the difference is that we are confessing for edification, NOT to gain the official stamp of approval.

Besides, how many times have you heard a “good” Roman Catholic say, “it’s ok if I get drunk and screw around, I can go to confession.” Do Roman Catholics believe that there must be REAL repentance? That lies at the heart of my serious concerns about the Roman system; it seems to me that no one cares what you BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART about Christ Jesus, rather, as long as you do an item on a long checklist, you are good to go. Do you think God is honored by cold ritualistic activity? I don’t.

Second, by confessing to a priest, the Catholic learns a lesson in humility, which is avoided when one confesses only through private prayer.

Then Catholics do not understand real confession to God.

And the priest can send you off with *penance*. A few prayers, a trip around the rosary and you're good to go.

God requires restitution.

I'd take *penance* any day over going face to face with someone I'd wronged, but that's what God would have us do. THAT'S humility.