PITTSBURGH - Evangelical Christian talk show host Marty Minto, who questioned Roman Catholic beliefs and entertained a caller's question about whether the late Pope John Paul II would go to heaven, has been fired.

Minto, 39, pastor of Turning Point Community Church, had been a host for three years on Pittsburgh's WORD-FM.

Minto fielded a question from a caller who asked whether the pope would go to heaven. Minto said he told the caller that whether someone was "born-again" was personal and "between an individual and the Creator," a Pittsburgh newspaper reported.

He said he was told he was dismissed for 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."

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