In 1573, Why did Spain decide that missionaries rather than soldiers should direct all new imperial settlements?
1) Missionaries really "got" the Indians, so much.
2) Soldiers were consistently losing to Indians and their missionaries were unstoppable in battle.
3) The Protestant Reformation was weakening Spain's grip on its settlements as Protestant ministers were sneaking in.
4) The Council of Trent pushed Catholic governments to emphasize religious commitments.