Very harsh treatment of natives--missions were a place of cruelty but typically at the hands of the soldiers or conquistadors instead of the priests.
Missionaries were a part of the Spanish colonization and contained Native Americans, conquistadors, and priests. The treatment of Native Americans included torture, threats to the tribe or families, and assault of women. This was done to extract resources and to convert to Christianity. Some priests spoke out about the treatment but many saw it as a means to save souls.