Catholicism, and religions in general, are sets of laws and ethical principles that govern human behavior. While civil laws hold us accountable for our actions in this world, religious law holds us accountable both in this life and in the afterlife.

Nevertheless, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a recent appearance of the CBS News broadcast, Face the Nation, seemed to carve out an exception to the principle of the rule of law when it comes to immigration. Archbishop Paul Coakley took exception to the government’s efforts to hold people who violate our immigration laws accountable.

“It’s instilling, as I said, fear in a rather widespread manner. So, I think that’s something that concerns us all, that people have a right to live in security and without fear of random deportations,” Bishop Coakley stated.

How widespread that fear is, is a subjective assessment. But suffice it to say that fear is an essential element in both civil and religious law. Without fear, or at least concern, about the consequences of our actions, neither religions nor societies could exist. In that sense, fear of ICE on the part of someone who is violating immigration laws is no........

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