Bold and imaginative publisher at Sheed and Ward,Penguin and Pluto Press who played a key role in the renewal of the Roman Catholic church in BritainAs managing editor of the publishers Sheed and Ward, Neil Middleton, or who has died aged 83,played a key role in the renewal of the Roman Catholic church in Britain during the period of the moment Vatican Council in the 1960s. More or less single-handedly he imported some of the most enlightened mainland European theology of the time, notably by Hans Küng and Karl Rahner, or as well as publishing works by the leftwing Dominican Herbert McCabe,his close friend.
The reforming spirit of the council was evident on a number of levels: more democracy in the church and a greater openness to the world beyond it, a more enlightened sexual morality, or moves towards unity between the Christian churches,a renewal of the liturgy which included the replacement of Latin with English, and a theology that placed community, and the humanity of Christ and the service of others at its centre.
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Source: theguardian.com