Paul Lantom

"Another man's evil does not make you good."

- Father Lantom to Matt Murdock

Father Lantom is a priest in a church in New York City.

Charity Work Overseas
As a young preacher, Lantom always believed he was more sceptical than many others in his faith and would often debate his argument that the devil was inconsequential, as he translated the hebrew word for devil as antagonist, of which everyone had their own, rather than a single bringer of evil.

Years later however, while overseas trying to help local churches provide food and care for the people, he became friends with a village elder named Gahiji. Lantom witnesses local gangs murdering their neighbours but none would raise their swords to Gahiji, when soldiers were sent to execute him, but not even the soldiers wanted to kill him. The commander arranged to met Gahiji, only to brutally murder him and his entire family in front of his village. When Lantom witnessed this, he knew he had seen the devil in that man's eyes.

Speaking with Matthew Murdock
"Perhaps this would be easier if you told me what you've done." "I'm not seeking forgiveness for what I've done father. I'm asking forgiveness, for what I'm about to do."

- Matt Murdock speaks to Father Lantom

While listening to confessions in his church, Lantom was visited by a blind Catholic named Matt Murdock. Murdock spoke to him about his past and his father, who was a boxer who was known for not ever backing down from a fight. Seeing that Murdock was not telling him what he had done that needed to be confessed, Murdock however told him that he was not seeking forgiveness for what he had done, but instead was asking forgiveness for what he was about to.

A few days later, Lantom found Murdock sitting outside his church with bruises on his face. Lantom sat with Murdock and told him that he knew he was Jack Murdock's son. He assured him that through the seal of the confession booth he was sworn never to tell anyone what Murdock had spoken to him about. When Murdock told him that he had to get to work, Lantom told him about the new coffee maker that had been donated to the church and offered to make him a Latte so they could have a chance to talk, Murdock however turned down the offer.

Early Morning Latte
"Do you believe in the devil father?" "You mean as a concept?" "No, do you believe he exists, in this world, among us?"

- Matt Murdock and Lantom

As Lantom arrived at his church, he found Matt Murdock once again sitting outside waiting, this time however Murdock accepted his offer for a latte. When inside, Murdock asked Lantom if he believed in the devil, not just as a concept, but as a figure among them. Lantom chose to tell Murdock the tale of the murder of Gahiji and how he had seen the devil in the eyes of the man who had killed him. Murdock asked him what he would have done if he could have stopped him hurting anyone, but refused to explain what exactly he meant.

Allies

 * Matt Murdock - Parishioner
 * Gahiji

Appearances

 * Daredevil
 * Season One
 * Into the Ring
 * Rabbit in a Snowstorm
 * Speak of the Devil
 * The Path of the Righteous
 * Daredevil

Trivia

 * In the comics, Father Lantom is assigned to the, and once refuged The Runaways inside the Cathedral.