In the 17th century, the secular authorities and the Franciscan missionaries in New Mexico were often in conflict as they competed for power, wealth, and the resources and labor of the Indians.
[3] From 1653 to 1656, Posada was stationed at the isolated Hopi pueblo of Awatovi, more than 200 miles (320 km) west of the principal Spanish settlements in the Rio Grande valley of New Mexico.
In the words of historian France V. Scholes, "the [16]50's were characterized by an increasing restlessness among the Pueblos and a growing hostility on the part of the Apache tribes."
The Spanish, including the Franciscan missionaries, required tribute and labor from the Indians and attempted to destroy their customs and religions in order to impose Christianity.
However, in 1662 Posada ordered local officials to turn over some tax revenues to the Franciscans rather than remit them to the governor and their relationship became toxic.
[2] On September 30, 1663, an armed Peñalosa and several of his followers arrested Posada at his church in Pecos and imprisoned him in Santa Fe.
He held high office among the Franciscans in Mexico until at least 1686 when he wrote a report to the Spanish king about the geography and ethnography of the American southwest.