Summary of a letter by Archbishop Pardo (dated June 6, 1680),
in answer to a letter from the king and a royal decree of August
22, 1077.
This decree ordained that the archbishop should make all the efforts
that he possibly could to maintain at their studies such Indians of
the islands as were inclined to that pursuit, and in due time should
promote them to holy orders, when he found them properly instructed;
and that for this purpose some boys should enter the colleges that
the Dominicans and Jesuits maintain, until a seminary be founded. The
archbishop stated the little inclination that the Indians have for
theological and moral studies, and that there was the additional
difficulty of their evil customs, their vices, and their preconceived
ideas--which made it necessary to treat them as children, even when
they were fifty or sixty years old. He considered even the sons of
Spaniards, born in the islands, unsuitable for priests, since they
were reared by Indian or slave women, because of their defective
training and education in youth. Finally, on account of the sloth
produced by the climate, and of effeminacy and levity of disposition,
it was evident that if they were ordained priests and made ministers
to the Indians when they were not sufficiently qualified therefor,
through the necessity there was for them, they did not again open a
book, and with their vicious habits set a very bad example to their
parishioners. That which should be done was to send from España those
religious who were most zealous for the conversion of souls. [92]