Questions / Salvation, heaven and hell

Why is hell forever?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Catholic Answers

Video: Trent Horn - Why is the punishment of Hell eternal?, Catholic Answers Live, published Nov 19, 2015. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Because the choice is forever. Hell is the state of definitively saying no to God, and He respects that no. CCC 1033 CCC 1035

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

Hell is the state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God, by our own free choice. CCC 1033

The Church affirms hell’s eternity; its chief pain is eternal separation from God. CCC 1035

Our words

Choices made with full freedom have weight. God takes your freedom so seriously that He won’t override it.

Watch another on this

Play video: Bishop Barron on Hell, Bishop Robert Barron, from Bishop Robert Barron, 7 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

Is hell real?

Play video: If God Loves Everyone, Why Doesn't Everyone Go to Heaven?, Ascension Presents, from Ascension Presents, 8 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

Does God send people to hell?

Play video: How could we be happy in Heaven knowing souls are in Hell?, Catholic Answers, from Catholic Answers Live, 5 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

How could we be happy in heaven if people are in hell?

Next step: Does God send people to hell?

Honestly? The best answers come from people, not websites. Take the next step: find a parish near you

Related questions

Do Catholics believe we are saved by grace? Catholic Answers · 2 minAren’t we saved by faith alone? Bishop Robert Barron · 14 minIs there salvation outside the Church? Fr. Mike Schmitz · 8 minHow are we saved? Ascension Presents · 12 min

Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1033, 1035 (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.