--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A person once asked me, in a provocative…" description: "\"A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: 'Tell me: when God looks at a gay per..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/pope-francis-85_approved_a-person-once-asked-me-in-a-provocative_1174627.jpg" --- # A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I… ![“A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: 'Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?' We must always consider the person.” quote by Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/pope-francis-85_approved_a-person-once-asked-me-in-a-provocative_1174627.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/pope-francis-85_approved_a-person-once-asked-me-in-a-provocative_1174627.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/pope-francis-85_approved_a-person-once-asked-me-in-a-provocative_1174627.jpg) > “A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: 'Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?' We must always consider the person.” [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker challenges the listener to consider divine love versus judgment toward LGBTQ individuals, urging empathy over condemnation. **In simple terms:** Ask whether God loves or rejects gay people. Key Takeaway Prioritize love and humanity. Themes empathy religion LGBTQ rights morality inclusion Mood thoughtful compassionate reflective Type ethical spiritual dialogue When to use this quote - pastoral counseling - interfaith dialogue - personal conversations - community building Key Concepts theology ethical reflection human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How does your faith shape your view of LGBTQ people? - Can love outweigh doctrinal differences? A Different Perspective The response may be limited by doctrinal constraints and cultural resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lgbt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lgbt/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Provocative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provocative/) ## Related quotes > [Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/tell-me-when-god-looks-at-a-gay-person-does-he-endorse-the-existence/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Who am I to judge a gay person?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/who-am-i-to-judge-a-gay-person/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [All over the country, they're reading about me, and the story doesn't center on me being gay. It's just about a gay person who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/all-over-the-country-they-re-reading-about-me-and-the-story-doesn-t/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [If somebody walks in to me and says, 'I'm a gay person, I want a job in your office,' I would say that's inappropriate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-neumann/if-somebody-walks-in-to-me-and-says-i-m-a-gay-person-i-want-a-job-in/) [Mark Neumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-neumann/) > [My own feeling about JJ, without knowing anything about him, was that he might have been a gay person, because he had long hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/my-own-feeling-about-jj-without-knowing-anything-about-him-was-that/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [A gay person in office can set a tone, can command respect not only from the larger community but from the young people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/a-gay-person-in-office-can-set-a-tone-can-command-respect-not-only/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [I deny that there's such a thing as a gay person. I deny there's such a thing as a heterosexual person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-deny-that-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-gay-person-i-deny-there-s-such/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [There's no difference between a gay person and a heterosexual person at the end of the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/there-s-no-difference-between-a-gay-person-and-a-heterosexual-person/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [As a gay person, my life has been marginalized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-sachs/as-a-gay-person-my-life-has-been-marginalized/) [Ira Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-sachs/) > [I think as a gay person, there was no way in my generation to not grow up with shame and a sense of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-sachs/i-think-as-a-gay-person-there-was-no-way-in-my-generation-to-not-grow/) [Ira Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-sachs/) > [I would like to tell stories through the lens of the gay person, but not just for gay people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rannells/i-would-like-to-tell-stories-through-the-lens-of-the-gay-person-but/) [Andrew Rannells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rannells/) > [For years I was the only publicly out gay person who was not a full-time gay activist: my position as a quasi-foreigner gave me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/for-years-i-was-the-only-publicly-out-gay-person-who-was-not-a-full/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [If You don't like Gay Marriage, Don't Marry a Gay Person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/if-you-don-t-like-gay-marriage-don-t-marry-a-gay-person/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I'm certainly not going to tell other people what they should do with their own personal lives. I think it's certainly easier for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/i-m-certainly-not-going-to-tell-other-people-what-they-should-do-with/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“I didn't set out to do a gay comic, but given the current political and religious climate in this country, I feel it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paige-braddock/i-didn-t-set-out-to-do-a-gay-comic-but-given-the-current-political/) Paige Braddock ## More by Pope Francis > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“Most people nowadays would not consider love as related in any way to truth. Love is seen as an experience associated with the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/most-people-nowadays-would-not-consider-love-as-related-in-any-way-to/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Listen to Jesus and follow him. That's the message of the Transfiguration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/listen-to-jesus-and-follow-him-that-s-the-message-of-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Proceed calmly in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/proceed-calmly-in-life/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I like to say that women are those who form life in their wombs - and this is a comparison I make - they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-like-to-say-that-women-are-those-who-form-life-in-their-wombs-and/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [You cannot insult the faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/you-cannot-insult-the-faith-of-others/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-remind-priests-that-the-confessional-must-not-be-a-torture/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [To all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/to-all-people-of-good-will-who-are-working-for-social-justice-never/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [In Confession, Jesus welcomes us with all our sinfulness, to give us a new heart, capable of loving as he loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-confession-jesus-welcomes-us-with-all-our-sinfulness-to-give-us-a/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I pray every day for all who are suffering in Iraq. Please join me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-pray-every-day-for-all-who-are-suffering-in-iraq-please-join-me/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I entrust this Twenty-second World Day of the Sick to the intercession of Mary. I ask her to help the sick to bear their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-entrust-this-twenty-second-world-day-of-the-sick-to-the/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Certain realities in life are only seen through eyes that are cleansed through our tears. Let us learn how to weep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/certain-realities-in-life-are-only-seen-through-eyes-that-are/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) [Explore all 1,479 Pope Francis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) ## More Approved quotes > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [Foreign journalists have to have an approved interpreter assigned them, which they have to pay for, who also acts as guide. As an Iranian,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hooman-majd/foreign-journalists-have-to-have-an-approved-interpreter-assigned/) [Hooman Majd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hooman-majd/) > [Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/mental-pleasures-never-cloy-unlike-those-of-the-body-they-are/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The White House approved an exemption in Obamacare coverage for Congress and members of their staff. Members complained that the Affordable Care Act will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/the-white-house-approved-an-exemption-in-obamacare-coverage-for/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [When I came to explain to them the 'Nelson Touch', it was like an electric shock. Some shed tears, all approved - 'It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/when-i-came-to-explain-to-them-the-nelson-touch-it-was-like-an/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) > [As much as the next person, I want to be approved of, but I'm not greedy for that stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/as-much-as-the-next-person-i-want-to-be-approved-of-but-i-m-not/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [The SEC got more than 100 rules to write under Dodd-Frank, the lion's share of all the agencies. And we've moved, I think, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-schapiro/the-sec-got-more-than-100-rules-to-write-under-dodd-frank-the-lion-s/) [Mary Schapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-schapiro/) > [In my schoolboy days I had no aversion to slavery. I was not aware there was anything wrong about it. No-one arraigned it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/in-my-schoolboy-days-i-had-no-aversion-to-slavery-i-was-not-aware/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When I first began examining the global-warming scare, I found nothing more puzzling than the way officially approved scientists kept on being shown to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-booker/when-i-first-began-examining-the-global-warming-scare-i-found-nothing/) [Christopher Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-booker/) > [There is nothing that can bring you closer to fearlessness about everything else in the world than being a parent - because everyday fears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/there-is-nothing-that-can-bring-you-closer-to-fearlessness-about/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [I should have known something was wrong with my first wife. When I brought her home to meet my parents, they approved of her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-should-have-known-something-was-wrong-with-my-first-wife-when-i/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [You wouldn't want to live a life in which you are loved or approved by all people on Earth or even within your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/you-wouldn-t-want-to-live-a-life-in-which-you-are-loved-or-approved/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [That which concerns everyone must also be discussed and approved by everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-verhofstadt/that-which-concerns-everyone-must-also-be-discussed-and-approved-by/) [Guy Verhofstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-verhofstadt/) > [ You have not been mistaken in supposing my views and feeling to be in favor of the abolition of war. Of my dispos\[i\]tion to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/you-have-not-been-mistaken-in-supposing-my-views-and-feeling-to-be-in/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [I think Martin Luther King would always keep track of collective insurgencies among poor and working people. He was concerned about the treatment of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/i-think-martin-luther-king-would-always-keep-track-of-collective/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) Browse all 251 Approved quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: 'Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?' 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