Country Demographics:

• Population:  10.5 million                                      
• Religions:   Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant
• Income Per Capita: $10,789.91 year/ $29.97 day
• Government Type:  Parliamentary democracy
  Chief of State:  President Jorge SAMPAIO (since March 1996)
  Head of Government: Prime Minister Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO (2002)

Legal Profession:

• Estimated number of active lawyers in Portugal is 21,871
• Estimated number of evangelicals involved in the legal profession is 50
• The name of the local Christian lawyers group is “Pro libertate,” which means “on behalf of liberty.”  The group was founded in May 2001, is led by Judge Sergio Almeida and currently consists of 25 lawyers.

Major Activities of Christian Lawyers:

• Hosted Advocates Europe’s first conference in 2001.
• Several Christian lawyers took an active role in helping draft the new Law on Religion in Portugal.  The law is considered by many as one of the best models for other European nations.
• A monthly dinner in Lisbon (and occasionally in other cities) to gather, pray and discuss legal issues that concern the churches.
• A national annual meeting to read reports, elect a new board and eventually to receive new members and present papers to be discussed.

Convocation Goals:

• The group from Portugal feels that lawyers need to be organized in order to be enabled to fight against discrimination and persecution of citizens for religious reasons.  They would like to see committed Christian lawyers get legal preparation to better enable them to handle situations in their countries and abroad.  The Convocation is important because it meets this international need.

Prayer Items:

• That God may provide lawyers committed to help those who suffer for their religious options.
• That God may provide church leaders who have a concern to make love a practical thing.
• That God will lead Portuguese lawyers to help churches to achieve equal status in the eyes of the government, for discrimination against non-Catholics, despite the Constitution and the law, still remains and affects many religious communities.

Contact Information:

• Fernando Loja soaresloja.adv@mail.telepac.pt

ªPortugal In Actionª

Advocates Portugal hosted the first meeting of Advocates Europe in 2001.  Several members of Advocates Portugal took an active role in helping draft a new Law On Religion which was passed by the Parliament.  The new law is considered by many to be an excellent model for other nations.  Fernando Loja, one of the founders of Advocates Portugal and the first President of Advocates Europe, was appointed in 2004 to represent evangelicals for a term of three years as a member of the Committee of Religious Freedom, which is an independent advisory body of the Parliament and the Government with the mission of monitoring the religious movements and communities in Portugal and give opinions on this matter.