$1 million bill sent to appeals court

The notice of appeal has been filed, and the case of the Gospel tract made up to look like a $1 million bill is headed to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

But the preparation will be straightforward, because the arguments are going to be the same as those delivered at the district court level, according to a lawyer arguing the tract cannot be considered a counterfeit piece of money because there is no real $1 million bill in circulation.

"It's going to be the same basis on which we brought the lawsuit, where we were quite sure we'd prevail," Brian Fahling, a lawyer with the American Family Association Center for Law and Policy, told WorldNetDaily.

"The statutes the Secret Service pointed to were inapplicable because the denomination itself is not in circulation. That seemed like a no-brainer," Fahling told WND.

And the bill carries a statement that it is not, in fact, legal tender. And it has several other serious differences from real money.

But after the U.S. Secret Service confiscated about 8,300 tracts from the Denton, Texas-based Great News Network, District Judge Jorge A. Solis of Dallas concluded the tract is not sufficiently distinct from actual currency.

Fahling told WND the judge "went well beyond the statutes" in determining the bill was illegal.

"I can't fathom how the judge went their way," said Fahling of the opinion that would "separate him (the judge) from 5 million people who would conclude otherwise."

The tracts are produced by evangelist Ray Comfort, whose Living Waters Ministry in Southern California has been inundated with requests for them since the story broke.

As WND reported, the controversy began June 2 when three agents visited the Great News Network office and told a staffer to hand over the tracts.

During that confrontation, the Dallas Secret Service officer explained to the Great News Network that someone in North Carolina had attempted to deposit one of the million-dollar bills in a bank account. The address of the Texas group was on the back, and the Secret Service went into action.

The Secret Service argues that the tract violates currency restrictions because it is regulation size and two-sided. However, Fahling is arguing the sections of the U.S. code's title 18 cited by the government, 475 and 504, don't apply.

He said 475 deals only with authorized denominations and 504 pertains only to exact copies of currency.

The tracts have multiple differences from real money, including the message:

"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 in Jesus, and God will grant you everlasting life. Then read your Bible daily and obey it."

Ray Comfort

Meanwhile, Fahling also is working with a man who alleges he was threatened by a Secret Service agent while was handing out tracts in downtown Las Vegas.

There, 35-year-old Chris Bowen said he was passing out the tract on the city's pedestrian Fremont Street when a Secret Service agent came up from behind, flashed his badge and threatened him with arrest.

A WND reader has pointed out retail giant Toys R Us has been selling "million-dollar bills," printed on both front and back, for years. In fine print on the back, the bill says, "This instrument is NON negotiable."

World Class Learning Materials sells a set of 100 bills of different denominations it calls "play money"

A website called Prank Place says its currency for sale "looks and feels real. Great conversation tool. Our funny money and fake million dollar bills look just like real U.S. Currency. These are very high quality, designed by an incredibly talented artist. Our fake money make great gifts, additions to greeting cards, or even sales promotions and sales tools."

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"How to Bring Your Children to Christ" by Ray Comfort

"Intelligent Design vs. Evolution – letters to an atheist" by Ray Comfort

"Nostradamus: Attack on America" by Ray Comfort

"What Hollywood Believes: An Intimate Look at the Faith of the Famous" by Ray Comfort

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Previous stories:

'$1 million' Gospel tract dealt court set-back

Judge to rule on gospel 'million-dollar bills'

Judge asked to resolve 'million-$ bill'

Feds preparing order to stop gospel tracts

No response from feds on seized gospel tracts

Christians to battle Feds on 'million-dollar' tracts

Feds seize 'millions' – in gospel tracts