Sadly, the institutional Church is not about to let go of the clerical culture, because all of those who make the decisions are clerics.  Few of them are willing to forego the perks that clericalism has brought.  
Someone in this thread states that priests are delegates of bishops, but I'm not really sure how they help people along the spiritual journey.  Bishops apparently mostly have degrees in canon law, hardly the realm of spirituality.  From what I have been told, priests' education focuses on philosophy and apologetics.  That does not give them the tools to help us understand the Scriptures or the over-all message of Jesus.  Most are not sufficiently trained in psychology or counseling to provide needed support to people.  It's not clear to me how their preparation makes them any more capable than any other baptized, believing Catholic to preside over Mass.  As it exists now, the priesthood in the Catholic Church does not seem to serve any real purpose.