Joe had a decades-long opposition to war and violence. He was a member of Peace Action, Citizen Action, and Veterans for Peace. He worked for peace and justice, primarily within the Catholic Church, hoping that people of faith could affect public policy towards disarmament. After serving on the diocesan Justice and Peace Commission in the early 1980’s, he co-founded the Justice and Peace Advisory Council. He was a commissioned Social Justice Lay Minister at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church and taught classes on social justice for many years. His commitment to Catholic Social Teaching was complete and untiring. Joe hosted The Social Justice Hour on public access TV for many years, interviewing local activists and showing films on such topics as the School of the Americas. He networked organizations and volunteers. He participated in many, many peace events over the years, photographing and taping them for posterity. He lobbied public officials on many issues. Joe received the Citizen Action’s Phoenix Award, and later the Bishop Costello Award for empowering others in ministry. Joe Coudriet was crystal clear at all times that Jesus opposed all violence.
Jim Clune
