[Orual]

`(The pope) genuinely likes him,'' said one church official. ``(Vatican officials) are still trying to find a place for him. They don't want to see him getting hammered like this.''

Unbelievable statement. Does anyone have anything for a pounding headache?

[aculeus]

`(The pope) genuinely likes him,'' said one church official. ``(Vatican officials) are still trying to find a place for him. They don't want to see him getting hammered like this.''

Unbelievable statement. Does anyone have anything for a pounding headache?

Giving someone a 'kick upstairs' is an old bureaucratic maneuver, a way of covering up the removal of an incompetent executive with a pseudo-promotion.

In any event Law is now denying that such a deal is in the works.