Wisconsin monks blend Web business, prayer life

Published: 2004-10-29

CHICAGO (CNS) -- A thousand years ago, monks spent their days copying manuscripts, illuminating Bibles and spreading knowledge both sacred and secular. So why, Cistercian Father Bernard McCoy wonders, does it come as any surprise that his small abbey in Sparta, Wis., is supporting itself and its good works by engaging in the enterprise of the information age? Father McCoy, 37, led his brother monks to start Lasermonks.com two years ago as the community looked for a new way to raise money. "What a lot of Americans don't get is that abbeys -- Benedictines and Cistercians -- have to support themselves, so they're not just living off donations," he said. Lasermonks offers toner and inkjet cartridges for printers; the cartridges are brand name, manufactured by third parties or refurbished. They are sold at a significant savings over retail stores, with the exact savings varying by product. Churches, schools and nonprofit organizations can take advantage of free shipping as well. More information is available on the Internet at: www.lasermonks.com.

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