Under rule of the Royal Audiencia of Caracas and the Spanish Inquisition, inhabitants of Venezuela faced serious repression.[11] The Catholic Church served as an important source to royalists, with priests serving as informants who would provide accusations to Inquisition judges because they believed crimes against the Spanish king were crimes against God.[11] Judges then held the power to torture those accused of crimes during interrogations in order to obtain a confession.[11] However, this practice was rare in Spanish-ruled Venezuela since it had already become controversial, even in Europe.[11]