not Catholic in a homophobic, racist way ->

I've been on a deeply personal journey with my Catholic faith lately, and I wanted to share some of the reflections that have transformed how I see things. For a long time, I felt a disconnect between the traditional church teachings and my own understanding of justice and compassion. It felt like there was this pressure to conform, sometimes leading to what people jokingly call 'catholic guilt memes,' but for me, it was a real struggle to reconcile faith with what I saw as an often exclusionary world. One of the biggest eye-openers for me was diving into the historical context of Jesus. Growing up, the images we saw often depicted Jesus as white, but the reality is, 'Jesus wasn't white.' He was a man from the Middle East, and understanding that shifted my entire perspective. It made me question so many other assumptions I'd held. This realization brought me closer to understanding his radical message of love and liberation, rather than one tied to any specific race or culture. Similarly, when I hear people say 'Jesus was a socialist, kind of way,' it really resonates. His teachings consistently championed the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed. He challenged power structures and called for a world where everyone is cared for. For me, being Catholic means embracing this core message: not in a homophobic, racist, converted way that feels exclusive, but in a way that actively fights for justice and equality for all. It’s about building a community that truly reflects God’s boundless love, a love that cares for all animals, no matter how big or small, and compels us to help out others in ways we can when we can, like giving blood or volunteering. This has led me to think differently about the 'catholic church hierarchy' too. While structure has its place, the true spirit of faith, I believe, lies in action and personal responsibility to our neighbors and the world. It’s about embodying the values Jesus taught, focusing on practical compassion over rigid dogma. It's about finding spiritual nourishment in serving others and standing up for what's right, even if it challenges long-held traditions. This approach has honestly brought me so much peace and a deeper, more meaningful connection to my faith than ever before.