The Code of Canon Law establishes that an Episcopal Conference is a permanent institution, constituting itself as the grouping of Bishops of a nation or certain territory, who jointly exercise certain pastoral functions in favor of the faithful of their territory, in order to promote the greatest good that the Church offers to men, above all through forms and methods of apostolate conveniently adjusted to the circumstances of the time and place, in accordance with the law (can.
This definition is reinforced in the Apostolic Letter Apostolos Suos,[2] of May 21, 1998, which clarifies the theological and legal status of Episcopal Conferences, defining them as institutions of ecclesiastical law and not as a supranational body that conditions the action of Bishops.
This truth is evident in the canonical norm relating to the exercise of legislative power by Bishops gathered in an Episcopal Conference.
By article 8 of the 2004 Concordat, the Holy See and the Portuguese Republic grant a prominent institutional role to the CEP at the civil level, allowing within the scope of its competences for it to conclude agreements and protocols with the State and establishing that the CEP may be heard on matters relating to the Concordat and others that have implications for the action of the Catholic Church in Portugal and its relationship with civil society.
The current members of the Permanent Council are:[3] Standing Committee, acting under the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Portugal:[4]