Questions / Salvation, heaven and hell

Is there salvation outside the Church?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Fr. Mike Schmitz

Video: Is Heaven ONLY for Catholics? (w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz), Ascension Presents, published Mar 11, 2026. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: All salvation comes from Christ through His Church, and people who, through no fault of their own, don’t know Christ but sincerely seek God can be saved too. CCC 846 CCC 847

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

All salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church, His Body. CCC 846

Those who, through no fault of their own, don’t know Christ and His Church, but seek God sincerely and try to do His will, may be saved. CCC 847

Our words

The Church is confident about where salvation comes from, and humble about how far God’s mercy reaches.

Short on time? Quick answer · 3 min

Play video: How Can Catholics Say There's No Salvation Outside the Church?, Catholic Answers, from Catholic Answers Live, 3 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

Video: How Can Catholics Say There's No Salvation Outside the Church?, Catholic Answers Live, published Jul 10, 2024. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube only when you press play.

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Related questions

Do Catholics believe we are saved by grace? Catholic Answers · 2 minAren’t we saved by faith alone? Bishop Robert Barron · 14 minHow are we saved? Ascension Presents · 12 minWhat is heaven like? Ascension Presents · 9 min

Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 846, 847 (official text on vatican.va).

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an errorCorrections.