In the Czech Republic the situation of families “is not very different from that of Europe, although it does have its specific characteristics, which are due to its history and the period of the communist regime.” Msgr. Ladislav Hučko, Apostolic Exarch for Catholics of Byzantine Rite living in the Czech Republic, said this in an interview with Stephen Leszczynski for Vatican Radio on the occasion of the “ad limina” visit of the Czech Bishops. After 1989, in the Czech Republic, “everything that came in was received, perhaps too joyfully, and we could not possibly assimilate it well.” Therefore, today, we are starting again from the young people: “There are pastoral centers in the different dioceses working to prepare young couples for marriage. We realize that families living in marriage are, to a large degree, more stable than the others.” Msgr. Hučko added that, in view of the forthcoming Synod on the Family, an effort is being made to explore these issues, “while taking into account—the Exarch pointed out—that the situation depends not only on our pastoral guidance but also on many other elements in our environment that affect us, such as the laws presented by politicians and by the European Parliament, as well as the elements present in other theological, philosophical, anthropological and psychological areas.”