Frank Cordaro (born 1951) is a peace activist and co-founder of the Des Moines, Iowa, Catholic Worker group. He frequently attends protests and gives lectures at school and community events in Nebraska and Iowa. He was a Roman Catholic priest from 1985 until leaving the priesthood in 2003 for personal reasons, including his wish to be released from the vow of celibacy.Rev. Frank Cordaro to leave priesthood , National Catholic Reporter, August 13, 2003. Accessed on line December 20, 2007. Max McElwain calls him a Christian anarchist, and Cordaro frequently participates in peace rallies involving civil disobedience.State v. Hutchison, 721 N.W.2d 776 (Iowa 2006) He has been sentenced to at least eight six-month terms in federal jail for trespassing onto military bases and federal buildings during demonstrations, most often at Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska.'Dr Strangeloves' meet to plan new nuclear era, Julian Borger, The Guardian, August 7, 2003. Accessed on line December 20, 2007.Annual anti-nuke rally held outside Offutt, Jennifer Greff, Omaha World-Herald, December 29, 2006.
Background Cordaro grew up in Des Moines, and went to the University of Northern Iowa where he was a wrestler.
Awards He was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in November 1990.The Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Recipients List
References
Additional sources
Max McElwain, "Practicing Christian anarchy. (Father Frank Cordaro.)" The Progressive, May 15, 1993.
Pamela Schaeffer, "Priest threatened with excommunication. (Frank Cordaro of Lacona, IA held a forbidden mass for members at a Call to Action conference)" National Catholic Reporter, July 18, 1997. "Priest takes leave for 'acting up'", Associated Press, June 6, 1999.
Aarons Dakarai, , Des Moines Register, August 5, 2003. Abby Simons, , Des Moines Register, August 11, 2004.
"Former Des Moines priest says prison has not weakened resolve", Associated Press, August 27, 2006. "Occupy Des Moines Steps Onto the Political Stage", PBS NewsHour, January 3, 2012. Regina Zilbermints, "Occupy Des Moines leaders thrust into spotlight", Des Moines Register, December 31, 2011.
External links Frank Cordaro's writings and a short biography can be found here. A video of Frank Cordaro discussing Christian Anarchism and peace activism can be found .