Editing Dominus Iesus (section)

===Non-Christian religions===

The document declares that, although the Catholic Church is intended by God to be "the instrument for the salvation of {{em|all}} humanity," such beliefs do not "lessen the sincere respect which the Church has for the religions of the world." It does, however, "rule out, in a radical way... a religious [[relativism]] which leads to the belief that 'one religion is as good as another'" which characterizes "[[indifferentism]]".<ref name="Dominus Iesus, 22">''[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html     Dominus Iesus]'', 22</ref>

The document goes on to affirm the possibility that those who subscribe to non-Christian religions may eventually be saved while insisting that the means of such salvation must be by Christ through his Church, and not through the religion to which such a person subscribes: "If it is true that the followers of other religions can receive divine grace, it is also certain that {{em|objectively speaking}} they are in a gravely deficient situation in comparison with those who, in the Church, have the fullness of the means of salvation." The document then immediately reminds Christians that their more direct enjoyment of the means of salvation comes "not from their own merits, but from the grace of Christ. If they fail to respond in thought, word, and deed to that grace, not only shall they not be saved, but they shall be more severely judged."<ref name="Dominus Iesus, 22"/> Thus, the document ultimately views such non-Catholic religions as non-salvific, since "all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church, His body", as the [[Second Vatican Council]] stated.