Can non-Catholics go to purgatory?

[lilyouth]

Father,my parents had already passed away. i believe they are in purgatory and i willing to pray for them. but they are not catholic, they are christian.and the christian doesn’t believe in purgatory. so are my parents in purgatory or in heaven now? can my prayers help them to go to heaven? if they are not in purgatory, are my prayers useless? thank you for your time.

 

[Augusta_Crowley]

The following links should assist you in better understanding the Catholic Church’s teaching on salvation for non-Catholics. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please [contact Catholic Answers (http://www.catholic.com/home/contact.asp) directly.

**Recommended Reading: **

• [Salvation (http://www.catholic.com/library/salvation.asp) from the Catholic Answers Library
• *[*Extra ecclesiam nulla salus ** (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=2802)
• [**Salvation Outside of the Church ** (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=143)
• [**What is invincible ignorance? ** (http://forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=48661)
• Can a Mass be said for non-Catholics?
• How do I pray for the soul of a non-Christian?
• Do protestants go to purgatory?