“Believed That Divorce Was a Huge Sin”: Years After Separation, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Ex-wife Maria Shriver Confesses All the Things She Thought Were Wrong

American journalist, Maria Shriver, was married to Arnold Schwarzenegger for 25 years. The couple parted ways after Schwarzenegger’s infidelity came to light in 2011. But that incident wasn’t the first time Schwarzenegger had been accused of cheating on Shriver. Throughout their marriage, the Austrian Oak was linked to several female co-stars. After their divorce, the Terminator star admitted to being involved with a few. However, through it all, Shriver neither shared her opinion nor imply her stance, until Schwarzenegger’s affair ended with him fathering a child. Many wondered why Shriver waited for so long. Turns out, divorce was never an option for Shriver’s past self.

Earlier this year, in an interview, Maria Shriver listed down the things she used to believe in the past. And how wrong they were. Her list revealed why Shriver held on to her relationship until the end.

Divorce a blessing or a sin?

In March 2023, Maria Shriver appeared in an interview with Ed Mylett. The agenda of the interview was to “Find Your Power in the Boardroom with Maria Shriver and More!”. Shriver revealed, that in her books she usually writes about things she’s changed her idea about. Or, things she was wrong about in the past.

Listing down a few, Shriver said she always believed she had to work hard to earn her parent’s love. If she didn’t have a successful career, her parents wouldn’t love her. Talking about her religious upbringing, Shriver explained that she “believed that divorce was a huge sin. I believed that I grew up as a Catholic you know I believed uh that you know priests were infallible.” She further added, “I believed that uh women should be secondary citizens in the church, um so today I’m angry at my church.”

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Today, Shriver doesn’t believe the things she did in the past. While she may be angry right now, it was also the Church she went to, to seek help after her marriage crumbled.

Maria Shriver sobbed in the Church

In February 2023, Shriver appeared on the podcast “Making Space with Hoda Kotb.” While talking about her separation from Schwarzenegger, Shriver revealed she felt lost and needed guidance at the time. Hence she visited a cloistered convent to seek advice.

The Reverend Mother’s words had struck a chord for Shriver who then broke down in front of the mother. Shriver recalled that the Reverend told her she can’t seek shelter in the church. However, she’ll now be free (from the marriage) to go out and explore her real personality. At that moment Shriver started sobbing. After that, she gathered herself again and faced the world with new vigor.

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Though more than a decade has passed after her divorce, it is only now that Shriver has slowly started opening up about her broken marriage.