SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Seton Hall University just launched the Institute for Communication and Religion within the College of Communication and the Arts. The first of its kind in New Jersey and one of the first in the nation, the institute will provide a nexus for ongoing scholarly exploration of communication topics critically important to religion and society, according to a press release from the university.
The institute will enhance the university’s and the college’s sustained leadership in fostering open, clear communication between the Catholic Church and the broader public. The university’s tradition of and ongoing commitment to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue uniquely positions the institute to serve as a powerful conveyer for this purpose.
With a home at one of the nation’s oldest diocesan universities, the institute is an interdisciplinary effort between the College of Communication and the Arts, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, and the College of Arts and Sciences.
“Seton Hall University enjoys a long and distinguished history of advancing interreligious dialogue,” Deirdre Yates, dean of the College of Communication and the Arts, said in the press release. “The formation of an interdisciplinary Institute for Communication and Religion is a simple, yet powerful way to make a positive contribution toward elevating the university, the college and the external community by improving public discourse on religion in society.”
The institute will provide opportunities to surrounding communities and the university to discuss age-old questions of values, ethics, tolerance and social justice in the context of the emerging digital society. Under the leadership of Msgr. Dennis Mahon, associate professor of communication, the institute will enrich and engage the public by hosting scholarly panels, organizing curriculum development workshops and conducting outcomes-based research. The institute’s inaugural event, “Speaking Truth: Religion in the News Media,” will be held Thursday, Nov. 2. For event and registration details as they become available, visit the college’s website at www.shu.edu/communication-arts/.
“Through various initiatives, our work will focus on exploring how communication and religion are integrally connected,” Mahon said in the release. “The institute will seek to ensure the university’s students and broader community are informed and equipped to communicate about religious topics with responsibility, passion and excellence.”
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