Evangelical talk show host fired after questioning the Pope

[purr]

after telling his listeners that the wonders if the Pope is going to heaven.

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/4378405/detail.html

Radio Host Fired For Wondering If Pope Went To Heaven

POSTED: 7:44 am EDT April 14, 2005

PITTSBURGH -- An evangelical Christian talk show host who questioned the beliefs of the Catholic church and entertained a caller's question about whether the late Pope John Paul II would go to heaven has been fired.

Marty Minto, 39, a senior pastor at a New Castle church, was fired Friday after three years as a host on WORD-FM in Pittsburgh. He said he was told that he was alienating listeners.

"As far as I'm concerned, I was doing what I've always done on the radio -- look at events around the world from a biblical perspective. I've always been willing to talk about controversial subjects," said Minto, who has had shows in Albany, N.Y., Denver and Phoenix.

Last week, Minto questioned some of the Catholic church's beliefs, such as purgatory, and fielded a question from a caller who asked whether the pope would go to heaven. Many evangelical Christians believe that someone must be a "born-again" believer to enter heaven.

Minto, who is also senior pastor of the 100-member Turning Point Community Church, said he told the caller that whether someone was born-again was personal and "between an individual and the Creator."

Chuck Gratner, general manager of WORD-FM, didn't dispute Minto's description and said he was let go because of differences in how he conducted his show.

"WORD-FM needs to function in this city in support of the entire church -- that means everybody -- and not focus on denominational issues," Gratner said.

[blm]

1. Bush believes you have to be born-again for heaven, too. Can he get fired?

.

[purr]

3. I wish! n/t

[acmavm]

2. The term born-again always amuses me. Were they too damn stupid

to do it right the first time?

[classof56]

6. Well, Jesus (who started it all) did say...

except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. It's a spiritual rebirth (you probably knew that), and the purpose is to affect a change not only in the state of one's soul but in the way he/she lives his/her life. Sadly, many "born agains" are missing the essence of the gospel, that is, to change your way of living and by your love bring others into the kingdom. Lately, I mostly see people being turned off to Christ's message by the actions of those claiming to be his followers. Jesus must be saddened, indeed, by this turn of events.

[demosincebirth]

4. Pastor of 100 member church? Wow!

He really has a following

[roguevalley]

5. someone wrote a letter to the anchorage daily news whining about

the war dead not getting honored enough and then saying how is it that flags can be half staffed for the deceased leader of a 'religious cult', ie, the Catholic Church. Amazing, no?

[ktowntennesseedem]

7. Yeah, I expected that kind of reaction from some of the not-so-bright.

I wondered during all of this what would have happened had Jerry Falwell not pulled throught after whatever sent him to the hospital recently. This same bunch of right-wing nut-jobs, a lot of whom probably just bit their tongue during the pope's half-mast tribute, would have been hootin' and hollerin' for the flags to be lowered again for ol' Jerry. To them, Falwell's a lot more spiritual and a lot closer to God than any pope, and they surely would have demanded equal time for one of their fallen heroes.

No matter what choice the White House made, it would have been fun to watch them explain their way out of that mess!

[Moderator]

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