Washington D.C., Nov 4, 2004 / 12:00 am (CNA).- American Life League president Judie Brown said many pro-life groups are “gleefully” declaring victory following President George W. Bush's re-election, but she does not share in their enthusiasm.

“It is true that Mr. Bush defeated one of the most solidly pro-abortion candidates to ever seek the White House. However, the Bush administration's first term has been less than sterling in terms of total commitment to the pro-life effort,” she said.

Brown pointed out that in the last presidencies in recent memory, whether Republican or Democrat, between 4 and 5 million babies were aborted, and countless others died as the result of chemical abortions and in the science lab.

“The killing continued unabated during Mr. Bush's first term,” she said, “and indications are that abortion on demand will remain decriminalized during the coming four years.

“Thus the status quo on abortion is going to be maintained, as will the ongoing public perception that we have a pro-life president,” she added.

Brown said she fears the malaise that accompanies Bush's re-election “will eat away at the edges of the pro-life battle, without generating a clear victory for the personhood of every innocent human being.

“The definition of what it means to be pro-life will take another hit. Due to decay from within, this could spell the end of what we have known as the ‘pro-life movement’,” she said.

Calling Bush “educable,” Brown said the president could learn that all abortions are bad, not just partial-birth abortions.

“He could learn there is no reason to excuse abortions in alleged cases of rape, incest, threat to the mother's life, or fetal deformity,” she continued, adding that he could pressure Congress to support the Right to Life Act.

“It is the responsibility of every pro-life leader to take whatever steps are needed to provide this education and cease patting Mr. Bush on the back until he adopts a true pro-life position,” she said.

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