Frank Cordaro | |
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Born | 1951 (age 73–74) |
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. [1] [2] Max McElwain calls him a Christian anarchist, and Cordaro frequently participates in peace rallies involving civil disobedience. [3] 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. [4] [5]
Cordaro grew up in Des Moines, and went to the University of Northern Iowa where he was a wrestler. [2] 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.[ citation needed ]
He was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in November 1990. [6]