Frank Cordaro

Infobox Person
Name=Frank Cordaro


image_size=
caption=
birth_name=
birth_date=1951
birth_place=
residence=Des Moines, Iowa
nationality=
other_names=
known_for=
education=
employer=
occupation=
title=
religion=
website=
footnotes=

Frank Cordaro (born 1951) is a peace activist and co-founder of the Des Moines, Iowa Catholic Worker group. He frequently leads 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 decision to reject the vow of celibacy. [ [http://ncronline.org/mainpage/specialdocuments/cordaroletter.htm Rev. Frank Cordaro to leave priesthood] , "National Catholic Reporter", August 13, 2003. Accessed on line December 20, 2007.] [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1141/is_n10_v31/ai_16371215 Priest jailed for nuclear weapons protest: he calls local churches 'moral cheerleaders' for Air Force mission - Fr. Frank Cordaro of Council Bluffs, Iowa - Interview] , Mike Palecek, "National Catholic Reporter", January 6, 1995. Accessed on line December 20, 2007.] He is known as a Christian anarchist and frequently participates in peace rallies involving civil disobedience. 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 Nuclear Command at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1013690,00.html 'Dr Strangeloves' meet to plan new nuclear era] , Julian Borger, "The Guardian", August 7, 2003. Accessed on line December 20, 2007.] [ [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-29067514_ITM Annual anti-nuke rally held outside Offutt] , Jennifer Greff, "Omaha World-Herald", December 29, 2006.] Cordaro grew up in Des Moines, and went to the University of Northern Iowa where he was a wrestler. During his period as a priest and since he has been an outspoken critic of some aspects of the Catholic church, including advocating the ordination of women into priesthood and criticizing the church's stance on abortion rights. He was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in November 1990. [ [http://www.peaceabbey.org/awards/cocrecipientlist.html The Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Recipients List ] ]

References

External links

*Frank Cordaro's writings and a short biography can be found [http://no-nukes.org/frank/index.html here] .
*A video of Frank Cordaro discussing Christian Anarchism and peace activism can be found [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuSL9FAfBtM here] .