You may also want to read the Catholic Position here…..

http://www.scripturecatholic.com/purgatory_qa.html4

http://www.catholic.com/library/Roots_of_Purgatory.asp

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=3302

I know it can be awfully frightening for some who post what they think will the one great proof that the Catholic Church teaches error to look at what the Church actually teaches rather than what they are told we believe, you should give it a chance, and learn from the source.