Religion, authority and denunciation in the paradigm of mediatization: The case of the Congolese diaspora of the Salvation Army.

The article examines denunciation as a form of public communication contesting religious authority within the Congolese diaspora of the Salvation Army, focusing on two digital communities on Facebook and WhatsApp. Using thematic analysis, it identifies denunciatory content related to corruption, abuse of power, doctrinal deviations, and injustice, revealing how mediatization—defined as the influence of media logic on social processes—challenges traditional religious authority by enabling public critique and alternative voices in digital spaces. Findings show that denunciation is a significant part of communication, especially anchored in members’ attachment to their physical communities of origin, institutional frameworks, and doctrinal convictions, making religious leadership and doctrines vulnerable to contestation. The study highlights that mediatization produces a fragmented and contested religious authority shaped by both official and unofficial actors, emphasizing the need for religious governance to maintain legitimacy through connectivity with believers’ values and symbols.