Cordaro, Frank, 1951-

Frank Cordaro was born in Des Moines in 1951, he graduated from Dowling High School and the University of Northern Iowa. He studied at the Aquinas Institute of Theology in Dubuque, Iowa and St. John's in Minnesota. In 1976 Cordaro helped to found the Des Moines Catholic Worker settlement and spent the next seven years helping to run their three hospitality houses for homeless women and families. Father Cordaro was ordained by Bishop Dingman of the Des Moines Diocese in 1985 and began his duties as a parish priest. He also continued his peace and social justice activism. Cordaro has been arrested numerous times for civil disobedience, including several protests at the Strategic Air Command at Offut Air Force Base in Nebraska. Father Cordaro has also served three jail terms stemming from his protests. Cordaro's activism has been controversial with some in his parishes and the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines.