The unbaptized, infidels, can be coerced in certain things by the State, which is (importantly) distinct from the unjust imposition of the Catholic faith on them. Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, eminent Dominican theologian, explains in his commentary on St. Thomas:
“But infidels can be compelled so that they do not impede the faith and its preaching by means of blasphemies, bad arguments, or open persecutions. For the Church has the right and the mandate from Christ of preaching the Gospel in the whole world. ‘And because of this,’ St. Thomas says, ‘the faithful of Christ frequently make war against infidels…lest the infidels impede the faith of Christ.’ And infidels cannot assert that probability may be less in favor of Christianity.”
Now, compare with no. 6 of the conciliar declaration on “Religious Freedom”, Dignitatis Humanae:
“It follows that a wrong is done when government imposes upon its people, by force or fear or other means, the profession or repudiation of any religion, or when it hinders men from joining or leaving a religious community. All the more is it a violation of the will of God and of the sacred rights of the person and the family of nations when force is brought to bear in any way in order to destroy or repress religion, either in the whole of mankind or in a particular country or in a definite community.”
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