What
Catholics Don’t Want You to Know About Purgatory
Mark Hart, the Executive Vice President of Life Teen, a
Catholic youth outreach program, wrote this statement on his website:
"… Catholics still very much believe in Purgatory (Catholics who
follow the Church, that is and not “their own” set of beliefs). Purgatory is a
temporary state of purification where imperfect saints have the effects of
their sin purged.” [End quote] (Hart).
Scott P. Richert, a Catholic author and editor, wrote:
“Through
penitential practices, prayer, works of charity, and the patient endurance of
suffering, we can work through the temporal punishment for our sins in this
life. But if any temporal punishment has been left unsatisfied at the end of
our life, we must endure that punishment in Purgatory before entering Heaven.” [End
quote] (Richert). (Posted on Sept. 6, 2018).
The above quotes are verbatim. Catholics believe in
Purgatory, which is said to take place after a Catholic dies. According to
Catholic teaching, purgatory is a place of torment and suffering. Augustine of
Hippo, one of the founders of Catholicism, said:
"That there should be some fire even after this life is not
incredible, and it can be inquired into and either be discovered or left hidden
whether some of the faithful may be saved, some more slowly and some more
quickly in the greater or lesser degree in which they loved the good things
that perish, through a certain purgatorial fire." [End
quote]. ("Handbook on Faith, Hope, and Charity" c. 421 A.D.) (The quote
was taken from: "Purgatory: What …”).
According to Catholic “church
fathers,” purgatory is a place of suffering which supposedly cleanses deceased
Catholics of the “stains” of their sins which they did on earth.
To support their belief in purgatory, Catholic websites refer
to extra-Biblical writings, such as the Second Book of Maccabees and the
writings of “church fathers.” They also take a few random verses from the
Bible, here and there (out of context). But, take a look at what Colossians
chapter 2 says.
What the New Testament Says
The Apostle Paul wrote:
[Colossians 2:8-15]
"8.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10. And ye
are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11. In
whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in
putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the
faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13. And
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14. Blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to
us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15. And having spoiled
principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them
in it." [End quote].
In Acts chapter 20, the Apostle Paul wrote:
