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

Marty Minto, 39, was fired Friday after three years at Christian radio station WORD 101.5 FM. He told Channel 4 Action News reporter Janelle Hall that he was surprised by the move.

"I have never been fired, never been let go," said Minto, a senior pastor at Turning Point Community Church in New Castle. "I just don't understand. I haven't done anything like a Howard Stern or went against any FCC rule or regulation."

What he did was stimulate conversation and ask questions about the pope's death.

"I asked listeners if they're getting too much or not enough of the 24/7 coverage," Minto said.

When a caller asked whether Minto thought the pope would go to heaven, the host gave his opinion.

"The Bible makes it very clear that unless a person is born again, the person will never enter or see the kingdom of God again," Minto told Action News.

Minto, who recently won two Pittsburgh Achievement in Radio Awards, said his boss thought he was pushing listeners away.

"I find it hard to believe I'm alienating people," Minto said. "My lines have been jammed all week. Hundreds of e-mails.

"I believe I had a right to share. It's a talk show. It's controversial because of the topics we talk about. I am appalled that, all of a sudden, my so-called brothers and sisters in the world have now said, 'You are no longer allowed to say anything; we're firing you. We're quenching your speech because you went too far.'"

General manager Chuck Gratner said Minto was let go because of differences over how he conducted the show.

Minto said he was offered a severance package but is thinking about contacting an attorney.