C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 001555

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/WE (VAN CLEVE); INR; DRL

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE 46/00

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/11
TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR PINS PROP SOCI PU VT
SUBJECT: OPUS DEI TRIES TO CLARIFY RELATIONSHIP WITH

ACCUSED SPY


1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY CDA JOSEPH MERANTE FOR REASONS 1.5 (A)
AND (D) .

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 01555 201557Z

2. (C) THE CHANCELLOR OF THE PRELATURE OF OPUS DEI, FATHER TOM
BOHLIN, CALLED CHARGE ON MARCH 15 AND REQUESTED AN URGENT
MEETING. CHARGE AND BOHLIN MET MORNING OF MARCH 16.
BOHLIN SAID THAT OPUS DEI HAD CONDUCTED AN ACCOUNTING OF
ALL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY ACCUSED SPY ROBERT
HANSSEN. HE CLAIMED THAT HANSSEN CONTRIBUTED $4,000
THROUGH 1992, AND MADE NO CONTRIBUTIONS AFTER 1992.


3. (C) ANSWERING QUESTION POSED BY CHARGE, BOHLIN SAID THAT
HANSSEN WAS STILL A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING OF OPUS DEI.
HE SAID THAT HANSSEN'S SPIRITUAL ADVISOR WOULD BE SPEAKING
TO HIM TO GAUGE HIS INTENTIONS.


4. (C) COMMENT: REQUEST FOR URGENT MEETING STRUCK POST AS
UNUSUAL. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME OPUS DEI HAS OFFICIALLY
ASKED FOR A MEETING. IT APPEARS THAT OPUS DEI IS ATTEMPTING
TO PREEMPT ANY CHARGES THAT IT PROFITED FINANCIALLY FROM
ALLEGED ACTIVITIES OF HANSSEN. MERANTE

CONFIDENTIAL

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2001VATICA01555 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL