The background to this Letter are the long-running Footplate Padre articles written by former locomotive engineman, Dr Mark Tronson now Baptist minister of 33 years and Australian cricket chaplain, who has been writing the Footplate Padre monthly articles for 'On Track'.
Editor of On Track Dave Moyle has had two of his readers write to him to whinge about the Christian content of the Footplate Padre column. This astonishing complaint was that the Footplate Padre (openly written by a Christian Minister) included in his Footplate Padre monthly articles, 'Christian' content.
In response to these two whingers, Dave Moyle in the February issue of 'On Track', wrote a comment titled 'Matters of Concern', on the wide acceptance of Industrial Chaplaincy and its benefits and that Mark Tronson's contribution to 'On Track' was in that vein.
In the next issue of 'On Track' (March 2010), came a response in the form of a Letter to the Editor. Although the letter was published with some parts left out due to space, the full content was provided to this writer for this article. The actual published portion is in italics at the end.
Letter to the Editor of 'On Track' E-magazine.
(Text as originally written)
"Having read "Matters of Concern" I initially wondered why it needed to be written especially after all the issues that have had the "offending" article in them. I am not religious however I enjoyed the articles and just breezed over the parts where he highlighted his beliefs. After all he is a Christian minister and with very good credentials which are clearly enunciated in the article, it was not as if he is involved with a shady or obscure religious sect that was using On Track to recruit members.
So I am guessing some one, or some people have commented or complained about the Christian, as distinct from religious overtones of the article, and have draw a long bow and construed that On Track is a newsletter similar in vein as that distributed by say, the ….... and is therefore attempting to coerce, convert or recruit the readers to Christianity.
It is a sad world here we get so het up about such things that our minds become a closed shop and cannot understand or want to understand the thoughts and beliefs of others without thinking we are being brain washed, albeit in a subtle manner.
It would be a shame where Mark can only relate his experiences by ignoring or denying his current calling. Anyhow isn't he keeping up with tradition whereby it is considered normal for ministers of religion to be enthused by such things as steam engines and therefore railways?
It seems religious persecution is still alive and well amongst some of these puritanical and politically (in)correct individuals, I guess they will be starving the lions or collecting rocks for their big day of eliminating religion as they see it and therefore be free to recruit people to form their own style of beliefs and worship!!!!!!
Will it get the stage whereby we need a label, warning readers that the article may contain words or inferences that may be deemed offensive to some people? What a load of rubbish, where will it end?"
(Text as finally published).
[ I am guessing someone, or some people have commented or complained about the Christian, as distinct from religious overtones of the (content) It is a sad world where we get so het up about such things that our minds become a closed shop and cannot understand or want to understand the thoughts and beliefs of others without thinking we are being brain washed, albeit in a subtle manner.
It would be a shame where Mark can only relate his experiences by ignoring or denying his current calling. Anyhow isn't he keeping up with tradition whereby it is considered normal for ministers of religion to be enthused by such things as steam engines and therefore railways?...
Will it get to the stage whereby we need a label, warning readers that the article may contain words or inferences that may be deemed offensive to some people? What a load of rubbish, where will it end? ]