Why I Am Not Catholic Anymore - How Much Is Enough?

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop ^TM?  The wise old owl says, “The world will never know.”  The same is true when it comes to getting a Catholic out of Purgatory.  This was one of the most unsettling questions I had as a Catholic.    According to the two volume set, Catholicism, Volume II page 1143, “There is for all practical purposes, no biblical basis for the doctrine of purgatory.” (McBrien, 1143).  So why even believe in it?  What purpose does it serve and are millions of Catholics being deceived in to thinking that it exists on the basis of scripture. 

According to Webster’s Dictionary, purgatory is a supposed place or state after death, in which the souls of persons are purified, or in which they expiate such offenses committed in this life, as do not merit eternal damnation. After this purgation from the impurities of sin, the souls are supposed to be received into heaven.  The Roman Catholic Catechism explains purgatory in paragraphs 1030-1032 and 1472 as follows: 

1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire.

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead: Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them. ( St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 1 Cor. 41,5:PG 61,361; cf. Job 1:5.)

1472 To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the "eternal punishment" of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the "temporal punishment" of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.

After reading these paragraphs from the Roman Catholic Catechism, what questions come to mind?  Several questions that I asked myself, and my Priest was, “How much time do I have to knock off in Purgatory, how much sin do I have to atone for, and how much do I have to do to make that happen since it is me that has to do that?”  To further your thinking, ponder this.  An 80 year old man dies and goes to purgatory.  In order for him to get out he has to rely on his living loved ones to bail him out.  Since they don’t know how much, they would have to move rather quickly and put forth all efforts to get him out of jail into the freedom of heaven.  The ages of his family ranges from his nephew of 5 to his wife of 75.  If they die the same time as him, they have between 5 and 75 years at best to get this done (being his nephew remembers him through the years and his wife doesn’t fall to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia).  If they don’t, who would go before him by way of indulgences or prayer to rescue him if in fact they never knew him to begin with?  If it didn’t take him 75 years to accomplish this feat, the chances of the rest of his family finishing the task for him are slim.  And he is just one person.  What about the rest of his catholic family?   

So what is done to get a person out of purgatory…having masses said in the deceased name, prayer, and indulgences (RCC - 1032).  According to the United States Catechism for Adults, it states,

“The Church assists those in Purgatory through prayer and especially Eucharist in their final process of purification.  Offering Masses for the deceased is a most powerful way of aiding them.  November 2 of each year, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day), is a day for special remembrance and prayer for the dead.” (154). 

Of course we are still found wanting as to how much.  How many Masses, prayers, indulgences does it take to get a Catholic out of Purgatory. 

What is puzzling to me is that according to the Roman Catholic Catechism, justification comes to us by baptism and faith in Jesus Christ. 

1990 Justification detaches man from sin which contradicts the love of God, and purifies his heart of sin. Justification follows upon God's merciful initiative of offering forgiveness. It frees from the enslavement to sin, and it heals. It reconciles man with God.

1991 Justification is at the same time the acceptance of God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness (or "justice") here means the rectitude of divine love. With justification, faith, hope, and charity are poured into our hearts, and obedience to the divine will is granted us.

1992 Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy and pleasing to God, and whose blood has become the instrument of atonement for the sins of all men. Justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who makes us inwardly just by the power of his mercy. Its purpose is the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life.

So according to the Roman Catholic Catechism, since Catholics are justified by baptism and faith in Jesus Christ for the cleansing of sin, why then is Purgatory ever mentioned if there is no need for it.  Want my opinion…save your money and be justified by God’s grace and mercy. 

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Though the bible doesn’t speak about purgatory, we can gain some insight into who, and where believers and unbelievers go in eternity.

Romans 3:24-26 KJV: Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  (26)  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Romans 5:9 KJV:  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Romans 5:1-2 KJV:  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

John 14:6 KJV:  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

1 Timothy 2:5 KJV:  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

John 5:24 KJV:  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 These are only a few of the verses that speak of justification, but I challenge every Catholic out there to read their bibles and see for themselves what it says about justification, hell, heaven, who goes there, and how.  Don’t take my word for it, but seek for yourself what it says.  Ask the priest of your local parish as to how many indulgences, masses, and prayers get people out of purgatory.  Challenge them to answer the questions and don’t give up until you have the answers you are looking for.  I did the same ten years ago and am very happy I did.  I now have assurance of my salvation in the blood of Jesus Christ only, and not on any works that I can do.