In 1976, a 23-year-old German woman named Anneliese Michel died after undergoing 67 Catholic exorcisms over 10 months. Her death would spark one of Europe’s most controversial legal battles — pitting faith against medicine, and belief against responsibility.   Was Anneliese a victim of possession? Or of a system that failed to recognize mental illness as something sacred, not demonic? In this haunting episode, John Williamson takes you beyond the horror-film legend to uncover the human story — one of devotion, suffering, and the thin line between faith and fear.     📚 Verified Sources & Further Reading Primary & Contemporaneous Accounts Court Records, Klingenberg am Main (1978) – West German trial transcripts of Fr. Ernst Alt, Fr. Arnold Renz, and the Michel family. Der Spiegel Archives (1976–1978) – German reporting on the death, trial, and public reaction. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung – Coverage of the legal and theological controversy following the verdict. Bishop Josef Stangl’s Official Approval (1975) – Diocese of Würzburg documentation authorizing the exorcisms under the Rituale Romanum.   Secondary Analyses The Guardian, “Faith and Madness: The Story of Anneliese Michel” (2003). BBC Radio 4 – Beyond Belief (2013) – Episode exploring demonic possession and the Michel case. Anna Katharina Michel, Anneliese: A Family’s Story (1999) – Family perspective and diary excerpts. Felix Kersten, Der Teufel und Anneliese Michel (2006) – German investigative account combining psychological and theological interpretation. Dr. Felicitas Goodman, anthropologist, How About Demons? Possession and Exorcism in the Modern World (1988).   Related Academic Context DSM-II / DSM-III Diagnostic Shifts – Understanding how epilepsy and psychosis were classified in the 1970s. Catholic Canon Law on Exorcism (1962–1999) – Comparison of pre- and post-Vatican II guidelines. The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) – Hollywood’s adaptation of the case, and how the real story differs. 🧭 Key Themes Faith vs. Medicine – When spiritual belief collides with scientific understanding. Obedience and Guilt – How devotion to authority shaped Anneliese’s final days. Suffering and Meaning – Why humanity continues to see the sacred in pain. Media Mythology – How Anneliese’s death became one of modern history’s most enduring exorcism legends. 🔗 Credits & Production Written & Hosted by: John Williamson Produced by: John Williamson Productions LLC Research & Script Development: Harper (Research Assistant) Music: Original score inspired by Jóhann Jóhannsson and Ben Frost. Special Thanks: To theologians, psychiatrists, and survivors who continue to examine the boundaries of faith and the mind.