Felipe Gyaman Poma de Ayala’s Appeal Concerning the Priests, Peru
In Guarnan Poma’s estimation, the priests ultimately suffer in comparison even with the integrity and good examples of pre-Hispanic Andean religious ministers who, in his view, “were Christians in everything but their idolatry.”
Guaman Poma writes, the Indian women become “notorious whores,” and a Mestizo population multiplies while the number of native Andeans diminishes.
In the midst of an often tragic and disturbing narrative, Guaman Poma makes precise recommendations. He somehow sustains a faith in ideals, in a kind of Christianity that could be better than many Christians, and in the inherent justice of higher levels of Spanish Christian authority. He writes that “from fatigue and nightmare, the bishops of this kingdom die because we [Indians] are so cruelly treated.” He calls for harsh punishment of the worst offenders, for the cleansing effect that he believes such punishments might have on Peru. And Guaman Poma, the Andean Christian and would-be royal adviser, grows more specific. These priests should be at least fifty years old, appointed on an interim basis, and carefully monitored, and the Indians’ opinions should be both sought and honored. Moreover, priests should be carefully screened by a succession of able Jesuits and friars for their abilities and preparation as pastors. Usurpers of their holy office, the false priests, must be banished from the Indian parishes.
The aforementioned priests, fathers, and pastors who stand for God and his saints in the parishes of this kingdom of Peru do not act like the blessed priests of Saint Peter and the friars of Our Lady of Mercy, Saint Francis, Saint Dominic, and Saint Augustine, and the hermits of Saint Peter who preceded them. Rather, they give themselves over to greed for silver, clothing, and things of the world, and sins of the flesh, appetites, and unspeakable misdeeds, of which the good reader will learn later so that they can be punished in exemplary fashion.
These parish priests take from every pueblo things belonging to the church, hospital, or members of confraternities, saying that they must help them; and they use them up with impunity. They do so with the help of the corregidor or the visitador [administrative inspector, or inspector and judge of idolatryl; and in this way the Indians are robbed of their belongings and community.
These women and their parents and relations cannot confess [to such a priest], nor is the sacrament of confession valid, nor is he worthy of a salary from them. Because how can he confess and absolve someone with whom he sins mortally, a sacrilegious sin with these Indian women?
All of this deserves great punishment; and even more than punishment, such a sin should be made known to the Inquisition. Properly punished, this will be a good example to the faithful Christians of Jesus Christ in the world and in this kingdom.
The priest should not be allowed to be a shopkeeper or merchant or petty trader on his own account or through anyone else, including his siblings and relatives. When he sells food or clothing, he is already acting like a petty dealer. He does not deserve the name of priest because in this kingdom they [the priests] are shopkeepers and small-time dealers. On the pretext of collecting offerings, he buys and sells, so that every pueblo’s offerings are sold to the poor of Jesus Christ, and with the proceeds he furnishes their churches.