Frank Cordaro
Frank Cordaro | |
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| Born | 1951 (age 72–73) |
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]
Background
[edit]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.
Awards
[edit]He was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in November 1990.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Rev. Frank Cordaro to leave priesthood, National Catholic Reporter, August 13, 2003. Accessed on line December 20, 2007.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ State v. Hutchison, 721 N.W.2d 776 (Iowa 2006)
- ^ '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.
- ^ The Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Recipients List Archived February 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
Additional sources
[edit]- "Priest released after serving 5 months for nuke protest", Chicago Sun-Times, September 13, 1988.
- Max McElwain, "Practicing Christian anarchy. (Father Frank Cordaro.)" The Progressive, May 1, 1993.
- "Priest Vows to Continue Protesting", Associated Press, April 28, 1995.
- 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.
- Kate Gurnett, "Protester-Priest's Politics Have Landed Him In Jail." Albany Times Union, February 14, 2000.
- Aarons Dakarai, "Activist priest to leave church", Des Moines Register, August 5, 2003. (subscription required)
- Abby Simons, "Cordaro, no longer a priest, remains a dedicated activist", Des Moines Register, August 11, 2004. (subscription required)
- Mary Nevans-Pederson, "Activist urges Christians to shun war; Former priest says Jesus embraced pacifism, not the "just-war' theory", Telegraph Herald, April 7, 2005.
- "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
[edit]- 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 here on YouTube.
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