Yeah, especially as he actually said “even atheists”
IMO Catholics have shot themselves in the foot when it comes to going to heaven or hell. A ‘mortal sin’ is one which damns a person. A venial sin is less severe, you go to purgatory instead and you get out of purgatory eventually.
I was taught that there are three conditions for a mortal sin: A serious matter , full knowledge and full consent. I questioned the ‘serious matter’ condition, arguing that surely one’s conscience decides what is serious, or even wrong at all. (I was about14) Noooo, was the reply. Whether a thing is a serious matter depends on an informed [by the church] conscience. I think that’s an argument from authority fallacy.