Priests under pressure: Viceregal criticism, hierarchy and discipline in the parishes of the archbishopric of Mexico, 1600–1650

Abstract

The consolidation of the archiepiscopal Church of Mexico during the initial phase of the Tridentine reform involved the implementation of various mechanisms to ensure control over the parish clergy. This article argues that beyond formal ecclesiastical provisions, it was the coordinated pressure exerted by archbishops and viceroys that shaped parish priests according to standards of pastoral efficiency and institutional obedience. Drawing on case files preserved in the Historical Archive of the Archdiocese of Mexico, the study identifies three principal strategies: improved priestly education, the functional stratification of the benefited clergy, and the circulation of priests among parishes. However, it contends that the most decisive disciplinary tool was the systematic attention given to complaints and accusations raised by parishioners themselves, who became active agents in regulating clerical conduct. This article contributes to a deeper understanding of how ecclesiastical control in New Spain relied on a complex interplay between civil authority, ecclesiastical hierarchy, and community participation.