Fundie broadcast announcer gets fired for questioning the pope's whereabouts

[Sauron]

It's so much fun to watch them eat their own young.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,153598,00.html

Talk-Show Host Fired Over Pope Question
Friday, April 15, 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 (search) would go to heaven has been fired.

Marty Minto (search), 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 (search), 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 (search), said he told the caller that whether someone was born-again was personal and "between an individual and the Creator."

[livius drusus]

Is there a transcript of the radio show available? If the article is correct I don't see anything particularly offensive about Mintos comments. Judging from the opening paragraphs I figured the dude had to have jeered at the Pope in hell or something.

I'm not sure what you mean about "watching them eat their young". I don't really get who the parents and children would be in this scenario.

[Miss Shelby]

He probably abused the format and got canned for it. Big deal.

Michelle

[Miss Shelby]

Apparently Mr. Minto's antics are not new:

August 26, 2003
Pittsburgh Christian Radio Station
Mocks Ten Commandments Stand in Alabama
MTTU News -- Pittsburgh, PA - WORD-FM, a "Christian" radio station in Pittsburgh, PA, mocked those who are standing up for the Ten Commandments monument in Alabama on last Friday's "Marty Minto Show." The host of the live show, Marty Minto - a former police officer - mocked long time prolife activist Rev. Rusty Thomas (Elijah Ministries). In his mimicking Rev. Thomas, Minto portrayed him as a brain-dead red neck, with a southern twang added for effect. In fact, all of those involved in the Ten Commandments stand in Alabama, were mocked in the same manner. Posted by Editor at August 26, 2003 11:49 AM

What an idiot. They were probably just looking for a reason to fire him.

Michelle

[livius drusus]

I just don't get what is going on with this guy at all. In the first article he seemed to be talking theology, possibly from an evangelical protestant perspective. In the second article, he seems to be laughing at some of the people defending Moore's 10 Commandments monument, which one would think an evangelic protestant would be fine with.

Having said that, I find the use of quotations around the word Christian in the second article very shady. That source seems to have a dog in this hunt, to say the very least. I wish there were transcripts available so I could get a handle on what exactly this Minto fellow is up to.

[Miss Shelby]

In my opinion he's probably just a Howard Stern wannabe shock jock, and the station management had had enough of him. So they used is latest stunt as reason to get rid of him.

Michelle

[livius drusus]

Could very well be. It seems more than likely, in fact. I just would like to see more information than these vague little articles provide.

[Miss Shelby]

Originally Posted by livius drusus

Could very well be. It seems more than likely, in fact. I just would like to see more information than these vague little articles provide.

Yes I agree, and also, I want to actually hear the broadcast that did him in. I'd like to hear the tone in his voice etc... I think it would be interesting to say the least.

Michelle

[livius drusus]

Oh yes, that would be very illuminating indeed. None of the articles even quote him directly. Isn't that odd? I'm guessing he doesn't come off as quite so much of a cock when you just see what he said on paper vs. the actual broadcast.

[Miss Shelby]

LOL!