The priest is "like" Jesus
...IOW the person is confessing to God.
The priest, as you've stayed, proclaims that the person is forgiven. Some need this. Only God forgives sin.
Persons also go to confession to speak to the priest,,,for advice maybe.
This practice changes nothing...
A person is still confessing to God
And God is still doing the forgiving.
If a person is not truly sorry for the sin, confession is worthless.
I'm not one for substitutes, I'd rather go to the real deal by faith.
1 John 1:9 (NASB) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 2:17 (NASB) Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Hebrews 3:1 (NASB) Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;
Hebrews 4:15 (NASB) For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as
we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 6:20 (NASB) where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:1 (NASB) For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
Hebrews 7:26 (NASB) For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;
Hebrews 8:1 (NASB) Now the main point in what has been said
is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,
Hebrews 9:11 (NASB) But when Christ appeared
as a high priest of the good things to come,
He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
Hebrews 9:25 (NASB) nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.
Here is the way for the Christian...
Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV) Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast
our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as
we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.