Opinion: Regier's beliefs

Some of Jerry Regier's critics and defenders have confused relevant political issues with irrelevant religious ones in debating the fitness of the new secretary of the Department of Children and Families. Regier's religious beliefs are his business. But his views on corporal punishment, and on the state's proper role in investigating allegations of child abuse, should be the business of every Floridian. Too many children's lives are dependent on Regier's ability to reform the troubled agency he now leads, and those issues go to the heart of DCF policies.

Some of Regier's own past writings, as well as articles published by groups with which he once was affiliated, raise valid questions about his views. Just what does he mean by "manly" discipline? In what context does he exhort parents to "smite (children) with the rod"? And having been associated with past writings that accused government workers of being too quick to remove children from families accused of abuse, does he think that has been the case in Florida? The most tragic stories involving children under DCF's supervision suggest that authorities have moved too slowly to protect children in many cases.

These questions aren't inappropriate intrusions into Regier's personal religious beliefs. Instead, they relate to Regier's public responsibilities as DCF secretary.

For the most part, Regier has been patient and respectful in responding to those questions. He was understandably offended when a group of Democratic protesters used a burqa as a prop to suggest that his views of women are medieval. Regier says he won't impose his personal religious views on DCF, and people should take him at his word unless he proves otherwise.

It's too bad would-be Regier defenders such as Lt. Gov. Frank Brogan also have contaminated the debate with nasty aspersions about the religious beliefs of Regier's critics. "Several of (Regier's critics) probably couldn't find their own Bible," Brogan said last week.

No one questioned the religious beliefs of Tallahassee Republicans back in 1995, when they ousted the devoutly religious Jim Towey, a former aide to Mother Teresa, as director of the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. Then as now, policy and politics were relevant; religion wasn't. Brogan should dig out his own Bible and see what Jesus had to say about the Pharisees.

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