You tell me. Is Catholic doctrine determined by papal declaration or by consensus of some committee?
The doctrine has the immovable dogmata of the Church at its core. Nothing in the doctrine can be self-contradictory or contradict the scripture (although certainly interpretations of the scripture some individuals make may contradict the interpretation that is doctrinal).
There is generally a hierarchy of regard given particular opinions, where the teaching of the apostles, the fathers of the early Church, the doctors of the Church such as St. Thomas Aquinas, and the popes are given precedence, in order of their historicity and apostolicity. The process is guided by the Holy Ghost at all times. Individual Church fathers, today or in the past, may have expressed opinions outside of the doctrine. Only consensus patris as a whole is considered authoritative.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a definitive guide to the Cathoic teaching.
I will post a collection on salvation of the Hindus and such shortly. As always, thank you for your questions.