Expert: Edward Bode - 2/8/2008

Question
LET ME BE DIRECT...........
WHEN YOU DIE , WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS AS TO YOUR SOUL......? ARE WE JUDGED IMMEDIATELY ? OR ARE WE ONLY JUDGED AT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST ?
WILL WE INHABIT THE EARTH IN A HEAVENLY STATE ?
WHY SHOULD THERE BE SUCH A DIVERSE OPINION ON THE DISPOSITION OF THE SOUL AFTER DEATH ?
PLEASE LET ME HEAR YOUR OPINION ....I WILL ADD IT TO THE MULTITUDINOUS OTHERS OFFERED.......THANK YOU ...AC

Answer
The official teaching of the Catholic Church is:
Each person "receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgment that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven -- through purification or immediately, -- or immediate and everlasting damnation." [The Catechism of the Catholic Church, revised edition, paragraph 1022].  The footnotes refer to New Testament passages: Lk16:22,23:43; Mt 16:26; 2 Cor 5:8, Phil 1:23; Heb 9:27,12:23.  Reference also appears to solemn teachings in the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.
Heaven is eternal and perfect happiness stemming from being with the Triune God [paragraphs 1024-25].