Raymond Peter Hillinger (May 2, 1904—November 13, 1971) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Rockford (1954-1956) and Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago (1956-1971).
Raymond Hillinger was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Peter and Mary (née Neuses) Hillinger.[1] After graduating from New Trier High School in Wilmette, he studied at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein.[1] He was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal George Mundelein on April 2, 1932.[2] He then served as a curate at St. Aloysius Church until 1935, when he became a member of the Archdiocesan Mission Band.[1] He was later rector of Angel Guardian Orphanage (1950-1953).[1]
On November 3, 1953, Hillinger was appointed the fourth Bishop of Rockford by Pope Pius XII.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on the following December 29 from Cardinal Samuel Stritch, with Bishops Martin Dewey McNamara and William Aloysius O'Connor serving as co-consecrators.[2] He was installed at St. James Pro-Cathedral on January 14, 1954.[1] Hillinger remained at Rockford for two years, when he was named Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and Titular Bishop of Derbe on June 27, 1956.[2] Speaking to the first National Catholic Conference for Interracial Justice at Loyola University in September 1958, he declared that those who oppose the Church's stand against racial discrimination are "simply are not Catholic, and there are no two ways about it."[3]
Hillinger later died at age 67.
| Preceded by John Joseph Boylan |
Bishop of Rockford 1954—1956 |
Succeeded by Loras Thomas Lane |