The Portuguese Church invited the Catholic jurists to set up a volunteer network in aid of convicts, to give them advice and help them in their social rehabilitation. On the occasion of the national meeting of prison chaplains and visitors, in Fatima, the coordinator of the Pastoral of the Prisons, father João Gonçalves, stated that "these volunteers can help reassure the convicts by giving them answers to problems that are not closely related to their pending suits. Without questioning the work of the official lawyers, the convicts can be helped to become aware of the prison regulations, their rights and duties, and citizenship issues". The opinion is shared by the president of the Bishops Commission of the Social Pastoral, mgr. José Alves: "this is an excellent contribution to make the public services more human. The Church is strongly motivated in the establishment of this volunteer legal network, which will respond to the convicts’ needs. Volunteers willing to help will be organised in every diocese, and the chaplain of every prison will be able to contact them at any time to answer questions or dispel the doubts of a convict or ex convict, chiefly with a view to their active social rehabilitation". ” “
