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	Peabody Parish Priest Headed to Haverhill By Paul Tennant Salem News June 24, 2010 http://www.salemnews.com/local/x657342925/Peabody-parish-priest-headed-to-Haverhill Catholic Church officials have named a temporary replacement for the Rev. Keith LeBlanc, who is being investigated for "financial improprieties" at St. John the Baptist Church in Haverhill. Archdiocese of Boston spokesman Terrence Donilon said the Rev. Paul Coughlin will take over as administrator at the church until a replacement pastor is named. Coughlin has served as parochial vicar, or assistant pastor, at Peabody's St. John the Baptist Parish. Over the weekend, Haverhill's Catholic community was shocked by the sudden resignation and departure of LeBlanc, who led that city's St. John the Baptist Church since 2003. Donilon said the archdiocese hopes to name a pastor to replace LeBlanc within the next several weeks. Donilon said LeBlanc is receiving "pastoral care" and that archdiocesan authorities need to "review the extent of the financial issue." Donilon said LeBlanc was ordained as a late vocation to the priesthood in 1996. State Attorney General Martha Coakley said her office and local police are investigating the allegations. "The archdiocese and parish are cooperating with law enforcement on an investigation of a financial nature. ... Because this remains an active investigation, the archdiocese will decline further comment at this time. We extend our prayers for Father LeBlanc and the parishioners of St. John the Baptist Parish," Donilon said in a statement to the media. Coughlin, who was brought up in Dorchester, attended Catholic Memorial High School and St. John Seminary. He was ordained June 22, 1991. His first assignment was at St. Ann Church in Somerville, where he served as parochial vicar for five years. That was followed by six years as parochial vicar at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Medford. Coughlin has served as pastor of two parishes: St. Mary Church in Charlestown from 2002 to 2005, then St. Margaret Mary Church in Westwood from January 2005 to June 2006. He began his work at St. John the Baptist Parish in Peabody in June 2006.
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