Short Answer: What Does the Catholic Church Teach Regarding How People are Saved?

Dear Apologist, What is the Catholic perspective on how a person is saved?

When asked this question, particularly from a non-Catholic Christian, the best place to start is with the Bible.  I would suggest pointing to two passages which spell out the Catholic (and Biblical) answer forthrightly.  The first is from the words of Jesus Himself in Mark 16:16: “[Jesus] said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved’”.  The second passage is from the book of Acts, specifically the preaching of Peter on Pentecost.  He was asked precisely the question of how a person is to be saved.  He replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” [Acts 2:38]. 

Drawing on these to passages, we can answer the question by saying a person – at least in the case of adults - must repent of his sins, believe the Gospel, and be baptized.  Many would be surprised by the simplicity of this, but it is what the Catholic Church teaches.  The Catechism states: “Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high.  Justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who makes us inwardly just by the power of his mercy” [CCC 1989-1992].

Now, there are plenty of details one could flesh out form there.  What exactly happens to us in Baptism?  Does God make any exceptions to this norm?  Can a person sever his communion with God afterward?  How does he return?  All of these questions can be explored in depth, but the starting point should be the basics:  Repent, Believe, be Baptized.