Hi Karen! I am neither religious nor Catholic. I cannot comment on the purgatory. But some Buddhists believe in the soul theory. Have you read the book, “Seth Speaks”? According to Seth (a highly evolved soul), the ordinary soul has to go through many lifetimes to educate itself. It is for its own good. Whatever issue you have not resolved in this life, your soul will try to find resolution in the next. It is a kind of “continued education.” Perhaps “purgatory” is something like that. As for me, I remain agnostic about these matters. I am a Zen guy. Afterlife is not important for me.