Have mercy on us, O God, for we are often guilty of arrogance and lack of acceptance. Amen.

You are the eternal shepherd, dear Lord; may Your flock accept obedience. Amen.

That’s according to a news story from the Catholic News Service. 

The news service is reporting that the Vatican just published its rules for verifying Marian apparitions.

“More than 1,500 visions of Mary have been reported around the world, but in the past century only nine cases have received church approval as worthy of belief,,” the news service said in its report.

Read more here: ”Vatican publishes rules for verifying Marian apparitions”

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor

Thursday, May 24 

Open our hearts, Lord, so we look beyond outward appearances and accept others as Your children. Amen.

However, there’s another interesting story about hoops in Sports Illustrated.   

This week’s Sports Illustrated cover story features a basketball star who has been called “the best high school basketball player since LeBron James.”

The magazine story talks about Jabari Parker’s hoops aspirations of course, but his faith is a significant part of the article.

Parker is a junior at Simeon Career Academy in Chicago and he is a Mormon.

A news release about the cover story said the article shares about Parker’s comittment to his faith: ”Parker wakes up each morning at five and says a prayer, and three days a week, he is at Bible study at 5:30. Parker also accompanies a bishop of his church on visits to the sick, the poor and the elderly — an assignment designed to teach young men the importance of service and self sacrifice.”

“I realize why I’m in the position I’m in right now. It’s not because of me. It’s because of God,” Parker told SI contributing writer Jeff Benedict who wrote the story. 

I’ve read the story and it’s an interesting article about how faith has made an impact on this young man’s life. I just wrote a story for The Oklahoman about local high school students who are Mormons. The students gather together between 5 and 6 a.m. several days during the week for an international Bible study program simply called Seminary. It looks like Parker is participating in the same program.

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor        

Yesterday, I blogged about the show’s cancellation and I’ve learned that “GCB” fans  are signing an online petition at www.savegcb.com .

“GCB” has Oklahoma ties: Kristin Chenoweth, an Oklahoma native, stars in the show. Chenoweth portrays Carlene Cockburn, a sassy church choir member.  

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor