The Catholic Bishops' Conference has called for fasting and a special day of prayer to protest against government attempts to amend the country's abortion laws. Catholics are being urged to observe November 11 as the ‘Day of the Unborn Child.’ Under the proposed law expected to be put before parliament this week, abortions would be permitted in cases of underage rape, incest and fetuses with severe abnormalities, according to Tissa Karaliyadda, Minister for Child Development and Women’s Affairs. Bishop's conference secretary general, Bishop Norbert Andradi, said yesterday that the faithful should demonstrate peacefully if the bill is presented this week. “We call on Catholic parliamentarians, policy makers to vote against the bill and Catholics in the medical profession to shun abortions or advise pregnant women not to have them,” he added.