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The following selection is taken from the report of a Roman Catholic Council working in the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru. The overall purpose of the council was the conversion of the indigenous population to Christianity. Their text marks the fierce ideological struggle for hegemony which went hand in hand with achieving political and military dominance. The extract, which complements that of Motolinía (Ib5), notes the destruction of native temples and ‘idols’ and the erection of Christian churches in ‘Indian’ towns. Our source is the translation by Kelly Donahue‐Wallace, reprinted in her Art and Architecture of Viceregal Latin America, 1521–1821, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2008, p. 24.

Second Constitution – That churches shall be constructed in Indian towns, and the manner in which to do so.

Furthermore, because, for the goodness and mercy of God our Father, in most Indian towns and provinces there are many Christians, and each day there will be more; and for this reason there shall be temples and churches where God our Father will be honored, and they will celebrate the divine offices and administer the sacraments, and the Indians will attend to hear the preaching and doctrine: Sancta Sínodo aprobante we order that the priests in the Indian doctrinas in the Indian towns give and procure with diligence as in each repartimiento, in the principal town where the principal cacique lives … to make a church, according to the number of people in the town, in which shall be administered all the sacraments, except in cases of necessity. And said priest shall procure to adorn it with the art needed for the site’s dignity and so that it is done, helping the people understand that that place is dedicated to God and to the faith and divine offices, and where we attend to ask God to forgive our sins. […]

Third Constitution – That the huacas shall be torn down, and in their place, if it is decent, shall be made churches.

Furthermore, because [the priests] are not just to make houses and buildings where our Father shall be honored, but to tear down those that are made in honor of and devotion to the devil, for being counter to natural law, it [the indigenous temple] is a great prejudice and incentive for the Christianized [Indians] to return to ancient rites because they are together with infidel fathers and brothers, and to the same infidels it is a great obstacle to their Christianization: As such, Sancta Sínodo aprobante we order that all the idols and shrines that are in towns where there are Christian Indians be burned and torn down; and if the place is decent for them, that churches be built there, or at least put a cross there.