NEW YORK (AP)  -- The Diocese of Brooklyn says someone stole the Social Security number and birth date of its bishop and used the information to apply for credit cards.

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio's credit card company called to notify the cleric that someone was trying to open a new account in his name sometime during the Christmas holidays. Diocese spokesman Rev. Kieran Harrington says the bishop called police, who are looking into the theft.

Harrington says the bishop was lucky because no money was taken and no cards were actually obtained.