Koop's religious beliefs also directed his professional behavior
He was (and probably still is) very opposed to abortion. He loves children, so his pre-SG career was pediatrics, especially the sickest premature children. The radicals thought that his opposition to abortion was grounds to disqualify him from the SG position. They thought he'd try to force his religious views on others through the SG office. They couldn't have been more wrong, but then the critics almost never admit they're wrong. A handful of his former critics did have the class the apologize to Koop as he was leaving office, but the vast majority of them just went on to the next victim of their wrath.