Eric Kniffin

Fellow

Eric Kniffin is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he works on a range of initiatives to protect and strengthen religious liberty as part of EPPC’s HHS Accountability Project.

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Eric Kniffin is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he works on a range of initiatives to protect and strengthen religious liberty as part of EPPC’s HHS Accountability Project.

Kniffin has been an attorney focusing on religious liberty for almost 20 years. As an attorney in Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice during the George W. Bush Administration, he helped enforce the Fair Housing Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons (CRIPA), and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). As legal counsel at the Becket Fund, he contributed to landmark religious liberty decisions including Hosanna-Tabor v. EEOC and Burwell v. Hobby Lobby.

In private practice, Kniffin has protected hundreds of religious employers from the HHS contraception and abortifacient mandate and the HHS gender transition mandate. He has represented the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Knights of Columbus, and the Assemblies of God, among others, in amicus briefs before the Supreme Court. His work helping religious organizations understand, maximize, and defend their religious liberties has made him a nationally recognized expert in the field.

Kniffin is a sought-after commentator on religious liberty issues and has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, National Review, Huffington Post, National Catholic Register, Inside Higher Ed, and Washington Times, and has spoken regularly for The Federalist Society and The Heritage Foundation.

Kniffin holds a B.A. in philosophy from Wheaton College and received a M.A. in theology from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary before earning his J.D. at Notre Dame Law School. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Bonnie, and their seven children.

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EPPC Scholars Submit Comment Opposing Indian Health Service Proposed Abortion Funding Rule

Rachel N. Morrison

On March 8, 2024, EPPC scholars Rachel N. Morrison, Eric Kniffin, and Natalie Dodson submitted a public comment opposing a…

PDF / March 12, 2024

EPPC Scholars Meet with Federal Officials to Highlight Problems with Confusing HHS HIPAA Privacy Rule…

Eric Kniffin

On Wednesday, February 28, EPPC scholars Eric Kniffin and Natalie Dodson met with federal government officials to opposed Health and…

PDF / March 4, 2024

EPPC Scholars Meet with Federal Officials to Oppose Rule Undermining Title IX

Rachel N. Morrison

On Thursday, February 29, 2024, EPPC scholars Rachel N. Morrison and Eric Kniffin met with government officials in the Executive Office…

PDF / February 29, 2024

HHS Issues Final Rule on Conscience Rights in Healthcare

Rachel N. Morrison

As proposed, the 2024 Rule formally rescinds the Trump-era 2019 Rule and replaces the 2011 Rule.

Articles

The Federalist Society / January 31, 2024

EPPC Scholars Comment on EEOC Proposed Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Regulations  

EPPC

We are deeply committed to supporting pregnant women, mothers, and their unborn children, including in the workplace.

PDF / October 11, 2023

EPPC Scholars Submit Comment Opposing HHS’s Proposed HHS Grants Rule 

EPPC

The scholars urged HHS to withdraw the proposal. 

PDF / September 12, 2023

EPPC Scholars Meet with Federal Officials to Discuss Abortion Concerns in the Anticipated Pregnant Workers…

Eric Kniffin

The Supreme Court’s recent emphasis on the major questions doctrine emphasizes the legal significance of Congress decision, months after this Administration declared its intention to protect as broadly as possible women’s ability to terminate their unborn children, not to specifically protect abortion in this law.

PDF / July 10, 2023

EPPC Scholars Meet with Federal Officials to Discuss Concerns over Anticipated Health and Humans Services…

Eric Kniffin

When selecting service providers for government programs, the government must treat religious and secular providers the same.

PDF / June 21, 2023

EPPC Scholars Submit Comments Opposing HIPAA Privacy Reproductive Health Care Privacy Rule 

EPPC

The Proposed Rule will likely intimidate hospitals and health care professionals into underreporting important information to state officials.

PDF / June 16, 2023

EPPC Scholars Submit Comments Opposing ED’s Proposed Gender Identity Mandate in Athletics

EPPC

On May 15, 2023, EPPC scholars Rachel N. Morrison, Mary Rice Hasson, and Eric Kniffin submitted a public comment opposing…

PDF / May 15, 2023

EPPC Scholars Submit Comment Opposing Contraceptive Mandate Proposed Rule

Rachel N. Morrison

The Departments fail to establish a need for the Proposed Rule.

PDF / April 4, 2023

Attacks on the Seal of the Confessional

Eric Kniffin

In the Catholic faith, the seal of the confessional—the promise that a priest will never repeat what he hears in confession—is rooted in God’s promises.

Articles

First Things / March 30, 2023