A Non-Catholic's Perspective on Confession

Why do I need to confess my sins to a priest when I can just confess them to God? -- This has been a commonly asked question by non-Catholics since Reconciliation has been incorporated into the world. Yes, it is a beautiful thing when you confess your sins truthfully to God in remorse and ambition to do better, but what a sinner needs is the presence of a priest to guide them and convert God's calling to something that is easily understood. During confession, a priest acts almost as an escort to the Truth of God. There are many benefits when confessing to a priest rather than just on your own. These benefits consist of: a priest fully absolves you of your sins in the name of the Lord if you are truly sorry and want to be cleansed, a priest hears you out and is someone you can vent to and ask for guidance, a priest gives you penance to really make up for your sins, and a priest is open to anything, literally anything, if you are sorry from the heart. He will not judge, think down upon you, or scorn you for your wrong doings. Instead, a priest brings you closer to God than you ever will be on your own.