def element_text(member_elt, elt_name):
  """Extract all `para` text from (`elt_name` in) `member_elt`."""
  text = []
  if elt_name:
    elt = member_elt.find(elt_name)
  else:
    elt = member_elt

  if elt:
    paras = elt.findAll('para')
    for p in paras:
      text.append(p.getText(separator=u' ').strip())
  return '\n\n'.join(text)