For two decades, Cioffi has worked closely with parishioner Antonia Malone, an adjunct professor of social ethics at Seton Hall University. The two founded the Monmouth County Coalition for Peace in 1981-82. That group evolved into Monmouth County's Pax Christi, a chapter of the international Roman Catholic peace group. A neighbor is that person who is in need, whether he or she lives close to you or far away. We take the principals of Catholic social teaching and apply them.
People have the right to life, to education, an adequate job, and freedom of speech.
Pax Christi is still going strong and continues to focus on the spread of nuclear weapons. The group also is working to get a moratorium on the death penalty, improve upon the welfare reforms underway, and raise the minimum wage to a living wage that would be adequate for people climbing out of poverty to stay there, Cioffi says.