Secret Service Agents Seize Ray Comfort Gospel Tracts ("1 million dollar bill")

WorldViewWeekend.com ^ | 06/02/2006 | Brannon Howse

[TheBattman]

Secret Service Agents Seize Ray Comfort Tracts

Press Release

On June 1st, 2006, Secret Service agents showed up at the office of Great News Network in Dallas, Texas and demanded their entire stock of $1 million dollar gospel tracts that are produced by Ray Comfort’s ministry, Living Waters. The tracts are used by Ray Comfort and his co-host Kirk Cameron and have been promoted on their national television program.

Reports were that the Secret Service was going to pay a visit to Comfort’s national offices in Bellflower, California and confiscate their entire stock. Apparently someone in North Carolina took one of the $1 million dollar tract to a bank and tried to deposit it into their account.

After Ray Comfort alerted Brannon Howse, President of Worldview Weekend and Christian Worldview Network of the Secret Service action, Brannon urged Comfort to call their mutual friend, Tim Wildmon, President of the American Family Association and AFA Center for Law and Policy. After Howse and Comfort contacted Wildmon, AFA’s lead trial attorney took the case.

Ray Comfort told Christian Worldview Network:

People love this gospel tract. It's my personal favorite because it makes people laugh, and the reason they laugh is because they know that there's no such thing as a million dollar bill.

When it comes to producing counterfeit money, there must be intent to defraud. This wasn't produced with the intent to buy anything, or to get change . . . it was produced as a gospel tract. That's its sole intent.

Besides, any bank teller or shop assistant who is duped into giving change on a million dollar bill shouldn't be behind a counter.

Comfort sent out an e-mail alert to his e-mail list telling his thousands of supporters and customers:

Today (Friday, June 2nd) the Secret Service seized a large supply of our Million Dollar Bill tracts from The Great News Network in Texas. They told them that someone in North Carolina tried to deposit one in their bank, and that if they didn't give up their supply, they would arrest them. Then they said they are going to seize our supply in California. If you want Million Dollar bill tracts, you had better order them pronto.

CWN was told by Living Waters’ customer service manager that their website was being slammed with orders after they sent out the e-mail alert.

Brian Fahling, Senior Trial Attorney AFA Center for Law & Policy who is now representing Comfort and his ministry told CWN:

I am more than a little amazed that the Secret Service has chosen to harass Ray Comfort because of his $1 million dollar gospel tracts. It is abundantly clear to anyone with a modicum of common sense that the ‘bills’ are not made with an intent to defraud, but rather, they are distributed with the intent to reveal the Truth (the Gospel message is written around the border on the back of the bill). No thinking person could believe the bills are real. If the Secret Service does not cease from this intrusion upon the free speech rights and free exercise rights of Ray Comfort and others, that agency will be explaining its outrageous conduct to a federal judge.

Apparently some cognitively challenged individual in North Carolina attempted to deposit one of the ‘bills’ into his account and the Secret Service decided that was enough for them to treat the bills as counterfeit. By that type of reasoning, if someone should attempt to deposit Monopoly money in a bank, the Secret Service could seize all the monopoly money held by Americans. Surely the Secret Service has more important things to do.

Comfort was encouraged by his legal counsel not to give the Secret Service his stock of the $1 million dollar tracts if they showed up at his office without a federal warrant. The thinking is that if the agents show a judge a copy of the $1 million dollar tract that he would laugh till he cried and then after catching his breath he would thank the agents for the good laugh and then ask them to stop wasting his time.

Here's the text on the back that should give a clue that it's not Government issued:

The million-dollar question: Will you go to Heaven? Here’s a quick test. Have you ever told a lie, stolen anything, or used God’s name in vain? Jesus said, “Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart.” Have you looked with lust? Will you be guilty on Judgment Day? If you have done those things God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer-at-heart. The Bible warns that if you are guilty you will end up in Hell. That’s not God’s will. He sent His Son to suffer and die on the cross for you. Jesus took your punishment upon Himself—“For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Then He rose from the dead and defeated death. Please, repent (turn from sin) today and trust Jesus, and God will grant you everlasting life. Then read your Bible daily and obey it. www.livingwaters.com

The front of the bill says "This note is not legal tender" as well as "Thou Shalt Not Steal," the words "Department of Eternal Affairs" and the web site www.WayOfTheMasterRadio.com, along with a picture of Grover Cleveland--a President who has never been on any bill.

CWN will keep you updated on this story as it develops.

[TheBattman]

OK - so I have a few of their $1 million bill gospel tracts and have used them from time to time. The ones I have are from their old product. The newer ones that came out recently do, from a distance, look semi-authentic (other than the fact that the are of the $1 MILLION dollar denomination - an rediculous figure.

The fact that some embecile tried to deposit one is a reflection on the lack of intelligence by an individual, not of any attempt by Ray and his ministry to defraud anyone.

Here is the front of the new tract:

I personally have a hard time believing that there is a legitimate threat from these tracts. THe only way someone could possibly be defrauded with these is if there is a collusion between the presenter and the employee of whatever business accepts it.... as what sort of idiot would think such a bill existed? Further - any bank employee who would fall for it isn't really falling for it, but is in on a fraud.

I can't help but think this is just a case of someone in power wanting to dust off the old jackboots.....

[beltfed308]

Besides, any bank teller or shop assistant who is duped into giving change on a million dollar bill shouldn't be behind a counter.

In a nut shell!

[Cricket24]

The Secret Service should have much better things to worry about. It doesn't even look like a real bill plus those real bills don't even exist.
It reminds me of the ATF going after gun show promoters. What a waste of the taxpayers money!
Go after the real criminals, Secret Service!!

[AlaninSA]

Good for the USSS!

Ray Comfort is a nutty, low-cal version of Jack Chick...and as insanely anti-Catholic as Chick is. I'm glad to see my tax dollars at work.

[metmom]

Tried to deposit it? Not only are they clueless but talk about greed. My understanding is that notes like that are not allowed to circulate but are for bank use only.

[Grendel9]

One born every minute....

[sinanju]

Shore is purty, nonetheless.

Nicely designed too. Could it be the use of a real president was what tripped their trigger? What are the rules on that anyway?

[Wombat101]

Two years ago, a woman in North Carolina tried to pass one of those million dollar bills in a local Wal-Mart. She bought about $1k of merchandise and expected $999K in change. The store manager (unusually alert, and showing above-average intelligence for a MASCAR devotee) called the cops, and the whole shebang was quite the cause celebre.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Looks more authentic than this. Ever. Will.

[Wombat101]

Excuse me, that was supposed to be NASCAR. No coffee yet this morning...

[usmcobra]

Can you post a picture of that,say errrrr wallet size?

[WKB]

Ray Should find "Comfort" in the fact
that his tracts are getting national free publicity

[cripplecreek]

Exactly what is the average intelligence of a NASCAR devotee?

[Nevadan]

Rather than being concerned about Gospel tracts, shouldn't the Secret Service be going after that NY Democrat politician who advocated putting a bullet between Bush's eyes?

[Clovis_Skeptic]

excuse me sir, but...uhhh...ya got change for a million??

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

I am certainly relieved to know that my country's bureaucracy is looking out for our financial welfare and putting a stop to this terrorism/fraud! May the SS and the Homeland Security continue to reign supreme and tuck my blanket in nicely around me!

Okay, sarcasm button turned off and removed now.

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

Cosidering NY city folk are crying for more 'security' money, maybe the SS should forward all these tracts to them!
Just don't ever expect any thanx from them.

[Just A Nobody]

Surely the Secret Service has more important things to do.

Yes, like going after the NY pol that said NY SEN. Schmuckie would like to put a bullet between my President's eyes.

Is this SS jurisdiction?

[monkapotamus]

[Jabba the Nutt]

"Besides, any bank teller or shop assistant who is duped into giving change on a million dollar bill shouldn't be behind a counter."

Just ask for a $1000 and tell them to keep the change. ;^)