The Church in Poverty: Bishops, Bourbons, and Tithes in Spanish Honduras, 1700-1821

Abstract

The opening phrase of the title succinctly states the economic situation of the Church in eighteenth century Honduras. This study comprises an analysis of episcopal leadership, the relationship between royal authorities and the Church, tithe administration, collection, and distribution in theory and practice, and the origins of anti-clerical Liberalism in Honduras at the close of the Bourbon era. Appendices provide a revised list of bishops who served the diocese and tithe yields for Comayagua [Honduras], Guatemala, Leon [Nicaragua], Chiapas, New Spain [Mexico], Chile, and Havana [Cuba]. A glossary of Spanish colonial terms is included. Although colonial Honduras was too poor to attract ambitious Spanish clerics, the bishops appointed to serve Comayagua were, as a group, estimable men. Five of the appointees, including the reknowned Antonio de San Miguel, were transferred to more prestigious and lucrative positions. In contrast to the traditional Liberal historical interpretation which claimed that the Church and clergy contributed nothing to the economic progress of Central America, this study shows that the bishops sought to increase tithe income by promoting agricultural production. They also introduced the collection of the first fruits in order to improve the economic condition of the lower clergy. Cattlemen, "burdened with increasing royal taxation for defense expenditures and local costs, attacked the Church and clergy and resisted obligatory contributions by employing anti-clerical Liberal arguments. Tithe income was not solely used for ecclesiastical purposes. By the middle of the reign of Charles III forty per cent of the tithe revenues was designated for the treasury of the civil government. This amount rose to sixty per cent by 1821, the date of Independence. This study is based primarily upon original colonial documents in Honduras and Guatemala. Other materials consulted include various books, journals, dissertations, theses, and papers from private and public libraries in Central America, Mexico, and the United States.