Dear DarthVader,
Well, I don't know what your understanding of Purgatory is. I will say that to the degree that Purgatory is defined dogmatically, Catholics are required to believe it. But Catholics are only required to believe what the Church definitively teaches, not the thoughts, opinions, or speculations of others.
"The Bible says that a man dies once and faces the judgement. Heaven or Hell?"
The doctrine of Purgatory isn't in conflict with that. After death, we are all judged, and we are either saved or damned at the time of judgment. There is no third option. Every single soul who endures Purgatory is saved. Purgatory is not a "second chance" at salvation. If you go to Purgatory, you are already saved.
Purgatory is just what its name proclaims - it is the process by which the soul that has died in a state of grace, the soul that is already saved, is purged, is perfected, cleansed of any lingering attachment to sin.
Catholics are required to believe this.
sitetest
Receiving Jesus Christ and repentance cleanses you of all sin. The Blood of Christ is the only atonement and extension of God's grace to us. Look at the thief who died next to Jesus at Calvary. Jesus told him that "surely you will be with me today in paradise" not purgatory. Do you think the thief who was being sentenced to death had some lingering attachment to sin? Yes, he did but he went straight to heaven after his death. To believe anything otherwise is to say that Christ was a liar or guilty of 1/2 truths. Remember this just because dogma is taught does not make it valid or true. There are many teachings in the Catholic church that do not meet the Biblical smell test and that I do not agree with nor accept. The Scriptures which are the inspired Word of God is the ONLY thing we have to base things on. Any other teaching if it is not based upon Scripture is an assumption. And an assumption is life's lowest level of knowledge. A Christian no matter what sect they are in is to base their life on the truth of God's Word not dogma.