A Russian Orthodox priest has commended the enduring American animated series “The Simpsons” for its depiction of traditional family values, while also critiquing the Russian film and television sector for its failure to represent strong nuclear families in a similar manner.

“For four decades, spanning 36 seasons and 790 episodes, ‘The Simpsons’ has presented a loving and robust family with three kids,” said Father Yevgeny, the head of the Yekaterinburg diocese, as reported by local media.

“Russia, which is experiencing a demographic decline, has not produced anything like this,” he commented on Friday at a women’s forum in Yekaterinburg.

Father Yevgeny’s comments marked a rare instance of acknowledging a Western cultural product positively in a Russia that is becoming increasingly isolationist and socially conservative, often criticizing the U.S. and its allies for fostering a “destructive neoliberal ideology.”

He compared characters from “The Simpsons”—the longest-running scripted show in U.S. television— with those in Russian animated series such as “Smeshariki” and “Masha and the Bear.”

“They are content on their own, but that’s not how real life functions,” he remarked, alluding to the Russian animated figures. “Our cartoons, despite their merits and educational value, have not succeeded in creating an appealing image of a wholesome and joyful family.”