Diego Rodríguez (Atitalaquia c.1596, in Mexico City – 1668)[1] was a mathematician, astronomer, educator, and technological innovator in New Spain.
[2] For thirty years Father Rodríguez maintained in his writing and teaching the separation of the exact sciences from metaphysics and theology.
One reason for this surprising difference is that the books of modern science originating in Protestant countries were refused entry into Spain by the censors.
In July 1655 the Inquisition required all Mexico City's booksellers (six) to submit their book lists to the Holy Office for approval, on pain of fine and excommunication.
[4] Melchor Pérez de Soto, one of the group of scientific modernizers headed by Diego Rodríguez and chief architect at the cathedral, was subjected to the Inquisition.
Rodríguez's Peruvian student and correspondent, Francisco Ruiz Lozano, used the samtechnique to measure the position of his birthplace, Lima, Peru.