Tolerance is tricky and problematic. During my decades in newspaper work, I have followed the rules to give balance to all sides in news stories and not interject my personal observations, beliefs or prejudices.

Meanwhile, during many of the 17 years I focused on religion, especially, I was given the instructions and freedom to write columns, commentaries and blogs that were clearly identified as opinion. I didn’t shrink from that role. I estimate I have produced more than 5,000 commentaries of one sort or another. Columns ran in the same section …