One thing you will never see is an authentic Catholic document denigrating another’s religion, you won’t hear it from the pulpit, and you won’t hear it from the Bishops or the Pope either. That should tell you something.
Uh, I know and am certain that the above statement was made in absolute sincerity and with the kindest of intentions. I also know that especially since Vatican II,
the Church has been much more understanding of (though not CONDONING of the errors of), other religions. But the official church has not ALWAYS been this tolerant.
Of course, we must consider the times in which earlier, more hostile official statements were made by the official Church, and they were, as well as the often violent circumstances of those times, but that having been said,
The Council Of Florence actually stated that at their deaths, all non Catholics (and it specified “pagans” and “Jews” and Muslims, etc etc, descend immediately
into Hell. I don’t have the reference handy, but the statement is authentic, and being the official statement of a papally-approved Ecumenical Council, one that is not to be taken too lightly as I understand that Ecumenical Councils are, if papally confirmed,
also infallible.
The statement should, however, be understood in the context of ALL Catholic gospel teaching, and not as a stand-alone statement. It SOUNDS more absolute than it actually IS, because the church has always taught invincible ignorance and baptism of desire and other things that mitigate the statement somewhat.
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