He was among the pioneer organizers of the Basic Christian Community in the 1970s which put into practice the progressive Catholic social teaching of having preferential option for the poor.
Kabilang si Fr. Joe sa mga nanguna sa pag-oorganisa ng Basic Christian Community noong dekada 1970 sa panahon ng batas militar. Isinabuhay niya ang progresibong kaisipang Katoliko ng pagpabor sa naghihirap.