As of 1995, His Excellency was one of only eight United States bishops still living who participated in the Second Vatican Council. Maloney participated in all four session of the council from 1962 to 1965. He was influential in the passage of Dignitatis humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom), one of only sixteen documents generated by the council and approved by the Pope. Ironically, Bishop Maloney often said the traditional Latin Mass during his retirement at Saint Martin of Tours Church in Louisville.
