Oct 27 2006 Gareth Rogers, South Wales Echo
A priest-turned-psychology buff who spends his spare time working as a real-life ghost-buster says he is still a sceptic.
Reverend Lionel Fanthorpe, 72, first took an interest in the paranormal while he was doing guest lectures on unexplained phenomenon at Cambridge University.
Mr Fanthorpe, of Roath, Cardiff, says he loved the idea of unexplained mysteries and it spurred him on to write several books and radio programmes about catching ghosts.
He said: 'I find it very interesting how there are so many different beliefs and ideas on what ghosts are.
'I have not discounted the idea of hauntings being caused by departed human spirits who are lost in the after-life, but I have never seen any proof personally.
'But I have found that after most of my exorcisms the ghostly presence has moved on.'
Mr Fanthorpe says that he normally conducts exorcisms with a medium who can see the ghost and speak to them.
He said: 'Usually I will ask the family where the spirits have been seen and I will put down some salt and holy water.
'Then I will say one of two prayers.
'Either I will ask troubled spirit to move on to a place where they can be at peace, or I will command them to move on in the name of God if they continue to cause the family a problem.
'But they normally go at the first time of asking, especially if the medium can tell them they will come to no harm.'
But Mr Fanthorpe always takes time out to have a laugh while removing evil spirits.
He said: 'One day I walked down a street in Splott to carry out an exorcism.
'It seemed all of the neighbours of the affected house knew that there was something going on.
'Everyone on the street was stood outside their houses asking me if I had come to bust a ghost.
'It turned out to be a harmless entity of a Victorian woman. She caused no problems but the young mother wanted me to move her on, so I did.
'As a scientist, I always try to be as objective as I can, and am a bit of a sceptic. But if reputable people come up with evidence of seeing ghosts, who am I to discount them? And if I can help them with the power of God, I will.'
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