The group voiced concern that abortion advocates had been appointed to influential positions in the incoming Obama administration. Ellen Moran, the executive director of the pro-abortion rights campaign fundraiser EMILY's List, was named White House Communications Director. NARAL legal director Dawn Johnsen was named to the presidential transition's Justice Department Review Team, though her eventual nomination to head the Office of Legal Counsel was withdrawn after years of opposition by some U.S. Senators.
Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards served as an informal advisor to the Obama White House transition team.
For the Susan B. Anthony List, the wake of the 2016 election has been much different.
"We're very impressed by the experience and talent on the transition team and feel confident our pro-life priorities are reflected in the agenda," Quigley commented.
During the presidential campaign, some pro-life leaders voiced strong criticism of Trump as a prospective candidate and president.
Dozens of prominent Catholic leaders released a March letter calling Trump "manifestly unfit to be president of the United States," citing his vulgarity, his "appeals to racial and ethnic fears," and his position on torture. They questioned the authenticity of his commitment to the right to life.
For Quigley, however, the Trump transition was "off to a great start."
"Now is the time for the pro-life movement to unify and join the effort," she said.
She cited the presence of Vice President-elect Mike Pence on the transition team, describing him as a pro-life ally. She said President-elect Trump "understands the importance of choosing the right personnel."
She pointed to the role of Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus as the president-elect's chief of staff and the role of Rep. Marsha Blackburn(R-Tenn.) as a member of the transition team's executive committee. For Quigley, the unanimous re-election of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) as Speaker of the House is "a clear sign that House Republicans are united and ready to enact laws that save lives."
"The Susan B. Anthony List's entire mission is about electing pro-life leaders and then working with them and holding them accountable to the promises they make to their constituents on the campaign trail," she added. "We can't wait to work with our allies in Congress and in the administration to enact lifesaving protections for the unborn."
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Kevin J. Jones is a senior staff writer with Catholic News Agency. He was a recipient of a 2014 Catholic Relief Services' Egan Journalism Fellowship.