"Inconceivable and unacceptable": thus, the permanent Council of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (PEC) defined the government’s bill meant to regulate religious assistance in hospitals. According to the Secretary General of the PEC, Msgr. Carlos Azevedo, the law project "does not respect the rights of the ill, and is far from the contents which have been suggested by the Church in this sector", and in particular, from the proposals which were developed by the National Association of Hospital Chaplains. Such body, gathering in Fatima on June 21st, 2007, issued a note in which it talked about "practical difficulties existing within institutional health units". After the favourable opinion by the Religious Freedom Commission, the Association wished for "a real respect of the fundamental right of the ill: religious and spiritual accompaniment".
