Propagating exceptions without handling them anywhere is bad, but IMHO still better than ignoring an error code.

If you ignore an error code, the program will continue but probably fail later or just be wrong in subtle ways, generate corrupt output or whatever. An unhanded exception OTOH will just stop the program. At least then you realize you have a problem, and where it originated.

Empty catch-clauses however, are just as bad as ignoring an error code.