The Catholic Church teaches that when we die, if we are not perfect our souls will have to be made perfect before we can enter heaven.  As the Bible says "nothing unclean shall enter heaven".  This "process" or "place" is what the Catholic Church calls purgatory.  In recent times some Catholics have been taught that purgatory is an outdated teaching and is not Church doctrine anymore.  This is simply not true and purgatory is now and has always been a doctrine of the Church.

The teaching of Purgatory was rejected by the reformers in light of their belief in the theology of Faith Alone.  Some people wrongly believe  that Purgatory was invented by the Catholic Church.  This is simply not true and can easily be proven false.

The fact is that the Catholic theology behind purgatory can be found in the scriptures and sacred tradition and does not contradict the Bible as most non-catholics claim.

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A few Bible verses that back up the Catholic teaching on purgatory:

"For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin" (2 Macc. 12:44-45).

“For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead, that though judged in the flesh like men, they might live in the spirit like God. (1Pet.4:6)  Why did the dead need preached to if they are in heaven or hell?  They must have been elsewhere.

"Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny" (Matt. 5:25-26).

"Each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but
only as through fire" (1 Cor. 3:13-15). There is no suffering in Heaven and once you are in hell you are not getting out.  This verse shows that there is a "place or process" where our souls will be cleansed so we can enter heaven and obtain eternal salvation.

"Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear."  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect."  ( Heb 12:21-23).

"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey." (1 Peter 3:18-20).

"But nothing unclean shall enter it [heaven]...." (Rev. 21:27).   Our souls need cleansed before they can enter heaven if we are not perfect!

Something to consider: What about Lazarus? He was already dead four days (John 11:17) when Jesus arrived at his tomb.  Once your in heaven or hell you are not getting out. Where was his soul during those four days? Protestant theology cannot properly explain this verse!