ANSWER by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM on June 17, 2004

Dear Claire: Hank Hanegraaff and his "Christian Research Institute" does a wonderful job of evaluating various cults, but when it comes to Catholicism he is just another bigot. Purgatory is certainly in the Bible. Many Evangelical Protestants call it the "Judgement Seat of Christ". The dictionary definition of purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:12-15: 12 Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- 13 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. 14 If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. .... and in 2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body. As for the charge that the New Catholic Encyclopedia says that purgatory is not in the Bible, the Mr. Bible Answer Man is most likely lying, but since we do not know WHICH encyclopedia to which he is referring, I suppose it is possible that he is looking at non-approved encyclopedia published by heretics. I have two Catholic Encyclopedia's available to me, plus about four Catholic Dictionaries, plus the Catechism of the Catholic Church. NONE of these sources say that purgatory is not mentioned in the Bible. Me thinks the Bible Answer Man is a liar, or is repeating a lie. Also, I am amazed at how ignorant of the Bible is the Mr. Bible Answer Man. ;) God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary