“Based on an examination of the scene, witness interviews, and other evidence gathered throughout last night and this morning, they collectively determined that the fire was intentionally set.”
A funeral for a senior priest scheduled for Thursday at St. Mary’s Church in Franklin has been postponed, following a fire being investigated as arson, officials say.
A letter sent to parishes and priests in the Archdiocese Wednesday night said that funeral services for Rev. John “Jack” Sullivan, 74, a senior priest in residence at St. Mary’s, would be rescheduled.
The postponement was due to a fire reported Wednesday evening in the sacristy, according to Franklin Fire Chief James McLaughlin.
Although the fire was “quickly” extinguished, a “significant amount of smoke” billowed through the entire church, he said…