What is Mystic Monks Scandal?
The Wyoming Carmelite Monks are a Roman Catholic monastic order, and the term “Mystic Monks Affair” alludes to a court controversy involving them. In order to earn money for the building of a new monastery, the monks started selling coffee under the moniker “Mystic Monk Coffee” in 2006.
The monks were charged with squandering the proceeds from the sale of the coffee, allegedly using them to pay for expensive upgrades to their present location rather than establishing a new monastery and for personal needs.
The monks also came under fire for their aggressive coffee marketing strategies and exaggerated descriptions of life in the monastery. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne looked into the matter and found that the monks had misused money. Father Daniel Mary, the monks’ immediate superior, left as a result.
What is Mystic Monk Coffee History?
Father Daniel Mary, a Carmelite monk from Wyoming’s St. Clare Monastery, launched Mystic Monk Coffee in 2007. Father Daniel Mary hoped to establish a self-supporting monastery to aid the community of monks. He made the decision to launch his own coffee company to do this. Mystic Monk Coffee is currently the recognized coffee of the Carmelite Monastery. This firm was formed on the values of fair trade and superiority. Since then, Mystic Monk Coffee has expanded into one of the most well-known specialty coffee companies, providing a selection of blends, roasts, and tastes. Additionally, they sell a variety of goods including clothing, souvenirs, and mugs.
Case Study: Mystic Monk Coffee Scandal
The Carmelite Monks of Wyoming, USA, were charged with abusing monies contributed to their monastery to buy coffee beans and roast them for sale as their own brand of coffee. The Mystic Monk Coffee controversy was a series of events that started in 2011 and finished in 2012. Over $5 million had been gathered by the monks via their fundraising efforts to buy the site on which they would construct a monastery. But the monks used a portion of these profits to purchase, roast, and then market coffee under their own brand.
When the media learned that the monks needed to be more forthcoming about where the money had gone, the controversy was made public. The monks’ continued requirement to disclose the proceeds from the sale of the coffee was also made known. The monks were charged with embezzlement, tax evasion, and money laundering.
People were outraged by the affair and demanded the monks’ resignation in large numbers. After an internal inquiry proved that the money had not been utilized for what it was meant for, the monks were ultimately compelled to quit. The controversy has made clear the need for more openness when it comes to fundraising and donations.
Many contributors decided not to make any more financial contributions to the monastery as a result of the incident.