In our archdiocese there is one priest and one priest only who lives off of his stipends and he was basically endowed by a rich family. He’s a wonderful man. The rest of the priests and the bishops are on salary. So the money that is paid when someone wants a Mass said for his/her loved one or when there is a wedding, baptism etc. goes into the general fund. The worker is worth his hire. The priests do not make much and they work very long hours. Of course, as Mr. Mercat says, they have a great retirement plan. We Catholics and I’m assuming Christians in other denominations are called to donate time and treasure as the Holy Spirit calls us. Where your treasure is there also is your heart. The more I give, especially of my time, the more I want to give.
On the subject of Purgatory - I recommend reading The Divine Comedy. Skip The Inferno and go directly to Purgatorio. Also consider this bible quote, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” I’m willing to guess that all the people I know who have passed away were not perfect. So how does he/she meet this commandment?
Yes to the Purgatorio!
I think our brethren say that we are made perfect in an instant by grace. And since we differ from them on things like time and space, to them that means there can be nothing for which an intervalmor a place would be appropriate language.
In the Seminary I took an elective course on the Divine Comedy. The instructor was an 80 something Catholic Priest. He was a native speaking Italian and did a great job of sight translating it from the original Florentine.