So what if Biden’s cabinet is Catholic?

Ferdie Rous | 26th January 2021 | Uncategorised
Joe Biden Donald Trump
PHILADELPHIA - MAY 18, 2019: Former vice-president Joe Biden formally launches his 2020 presidential campaign during a rally May 18, 2019, at Eakins Oval in Philadelphia.; (Shutterstock)

Over a third of Biden's cabinet nominees may be Catholic, but it won't affect their politics, says Ferdie Rous

US President Biden has made much of his faith. His faith guides him in his politics, he says. Denis McDonough, the former Chief of Staff to Barack Obama, says he is fond of massaging his Rosary in times of stress. Biden will be one of the first regular churchgoers in office for some time. His avowed faith sometimes appears subservient to his politics. Biden’s fellow Catholics loom large in his incoming administration. Eight of fifteen nominees for cabinet secretary positions are his coreligionists: Lloyd Austin (Defense); Deb Haaland (Interior); Tom Vilsack (Agriculture); Gina Raimondo (Commerce), Martin Walsh (Labor); Xavier Becerra (Health and Human Services); Pete Buttigieg (Transportation) and Denis McDonough (Veteran Affairs). Biden’s choice for Health Secretary is former California Attorney General. He has been praised for his alignment with Pope Francis on migrants, healthcare and the environment. The head of the Catholic Health Association, Sr. Mary Haddad told the National Cat...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



EU Buy European Push Put on Ice as Member State Divisions Stall Plan

Mace | December 12, 2025

Deep splits among EU capitals force Brussels to delay its Buy European procurement push amid fears of protectionism and higher costs.

EU Council Signs Off EU UK Fishing Quotas Deal for 2026

Mace | December 12, 2025

Brussels approves annual EU UK fisheries agreement for 2026, setting shared quotas and access rules under the post Brexit framework.

EU Forces Meta to Reshape Ads Policy After 200 Million Euro Fine

Mace | December 10, 2025

Meta agrees to overhaul its EU ad model, offering clearer data-sharing choices for users after regulators ruled its previous system breached competition rules.

EU Governments Agree Common Position on New Asylum and Migrant Return Rules

Mace | December 10, 2025

EU states back new asylum and return measures, including safe-country rules and a solidarity pool, ahead

MACE Marks Five Years with Westminster Celebration

Mace | December 4, 2025

MACE marked its 5th anniversary with a high-profile Commons reception of politicians, diplomats, media figures and lobbyists, launching its influencers report

Scathing criticism

Christopher Silvester | December 3, 2025

From self-lacerating memoir to by-election madness and a Labour Together takedown, The Mace’s literary editor Christopher Silvester rounds up the latest political books.

Telling a human tale

Christopher Silvester | December 3, 2025

From self-lacerating memoir to by-election madness and a Labour Together takedown, The Mace’s literary editor Christopher Silvester rounds up the latest political books.

Ex-deputy chair among Tory defections to Reform

Mace | November 30, 2025

Three former Conservative MPs, including ex-deputy chair Jonathan Gullis, defect to Reform UK as the party capitalises on Tory unrest and declining support.

UK–EU Defence Fund Talks Collapse Over Entry Fee Standoff

Mace | November 30, 2025

Talks between London and Brussels collapsed after the EU demanded a high entry fee for SAFE, leaving the UK limited to third-country participation.

Government to Ban Asylum Seekers from Taxi Services

Thomas Edwards | November 30, 2025

The government plans to end most taxi travel for asylum seekers attending medical appointments, replacing it with public transport and tightening Home Office oversight.