Accusing Georgetown faculty, administrators and student organizations of losing sight of the university’s Catholic and Jesuit identity, prominent conservative Catholic leader Patrick Reilly called for a return to Georgetown’s roots during a speech yesterday in Copley Formal Lounge.

“We’re concerned that Catholic universities be Catholic in every sense,” Reilly said. “How well does [Georgetown] live up to that label? Then the answer I would submit is `not so well.'”

Reilly, who founded the Cardinal Newman Society, a Catholic university watchdog group, in 1992, said that Catholic universities need to live up to their Catholic identities.

“I’m here primarily to defend the rights of students and parents who pay to have their children at a school that advertises itself as Jesuit and Catholic,” Reilly said. “The concern is truth in advertising.”

Reilly denounced University President John J. DeGioia, calling his selection as president “one of the dark marks on Georgetown’s history.” Reilly said he disapproved of what he asserted was DeGioia’s leniency towards H*yas for Choice, a student organization that supports abortion rights.

Reilly criticized several university faculty members, including adeleine Albright and Tom Daschle, for being pro-abortion rights and anti-Catholic in their teaching and personal views.

“Georgetown University, more than any other Catholic institution, has by far the largest number of faculty members who clearly are not consistent with the Catholic doctrines of this institution,” Reilly said.

Reilly also criticized University Provost James J. O’Donnell, saying that O’Donnell slandered Saint Augustine in a recent speech.

“One must wonder what the provost of a Catholic university has as his next target: Thomas Aquinas?” Reilly said.

Reilly listed various student organizations that he believes are in conflict with the university’s Catholic identity, including Take Back the Night, H*yas for Choice, UNICEF and GU Pride. Reilly was particularly critical of the upcoming showing of the “The Vagina Monologues” at Georgetown, calling it “sexually explicit and extremely offensive.”

“If the University of Notre Dame can ban this play, then Georgetown should jump on the bandwagon,” Reilly said.

“[Reilly’s] way of looking at things is very exclusive and doesn’t allow for dialogue,” said Hania Luna (COL ’06), who is involved in the production of the show. “I think that he undermines the fact that Georgetown students are not only intelligent, but that there’s more to Georgetown students than he thinks.”

Reilly criticized the university’s choice of commencement speakers, including its invitations to former Secretary of State Colin Powell, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, saying they are “all very publicly, very actively pro-abortion.” He also said he disapproved of some of the speakers that have appeared on campus, including former President Bill Clinton (SFS ’68).

Reilly also criticized university publications, including THE HOYA, for being anti-Catholic and publishing information about topics, such as birth control and premarital sex, which are contrary to Catholic teachings.

Reilly said he was saddened by the university’s new policy granting health benefits to faculty members’ same-sex partners.

“It’s a slope that gets more slippery as it goes,” Reilly said.

Reilly concluded his speech by asserting what he said he believes to be the role of a Catholic university.

“We can look at creation and we can enjoy it,” Reilly said. “But if we’re not paying attention to the creator, what is the use? That is the purpose of a Catholic university. Georgetown University needs to take a look at that.”

The speech was sponsored by the Lecture Fund.