metropolitan bishopric with superior powers, should be established.[1]
By a royal cédula issued in February 1534, New Spain proper was divided into four provinces, designated as Mexico, Michoacan, Goazacoalco, and Miztecapan;[2] but the bishoprics, which it was intended to some extent should follow these political divisions, were known by the names of Mexico, Michoacan, Tlascala, and Oajaca. The boundaries of all new dioceses were to be limited to a radius of fifteen leagues, having the cathedral town as the centre. Intervening space between two sees was to be equally divided, but should any principal town be situated near a boundary line the district belonging to it was to be under the jurisdiction of the bishopric in which the town lay, even though it extended into the neighboring diocese.[3]
But these regulations were attended with inconveniences. The different bishoprics still included greater territorial extents than were consistent with thorough work, and in later times the want of definiteness respecting boundaries led to frequent disputes. In addition to the two bishoprics now existing, namely, those of Mexico and Tlascala, two others were to be established, those of Oajaca and Michoacan. The see of Oajaca was first offered to Padre Francisco Jimenez,[4] one of the first twelve Franciscans, but he did not accept the appointment, and it was conferred upon Juan Lopez de Zárate, a licentiate in canonical law, doctor of theology, and a devoted member of the Dominican order.[5]
- ↑ Parecer del Consejo, in Pacheco and Cárdenas, xii. 133-4.
- ↑ The limits of each were properly defined. Puga, Cedulario, 90-1.
- ↑ Zamora, Bib. Leg. Ult., iv. 464.
- ↑ He had been called to several different sees. Torquemada states that he refused that of Guatemala. Gonzaga calls him the bishop of Tabasco, and Medina considers him to have been the first bishop of Oajaca. This latter author considers that the vagueness of diocesan boundaries at this period gave rise to this diversity of opinion. Chron. de San Diego de Mex., 246; Florencia, Hist. Prov. Comp. de Jesus, 231-2. According to the first-quoted authority and Gonzalez Dávila, Teatro Ecles., 222, he was appointed by Charles V. on the 14th of January, 1534.
- ↑ He gave permission to this order to establish in his diocese all the convents
