Can God wash away your sins by water?

saved through water

Can we baptize without water? Here's what I say, correct me if I'm wrong:

It is not, "In Baptism, water is the sign of what the Spirit does". It is that "in Baptism, water is the effectual sign which signifies and produces what the spirit does."

To compare, if a man claims that he has been baptized by the Holy Spirit because he claims this happens by "faith alone", this may or may not be true. Scripture says the Spirit blows where it will.

But, if a man claims that he has been baptized by the Holy Spirit when he was baptized in the Sacrament of the Catholic Church, then this is true. Because Christ has tied the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, to the pouring of the water and proclamation of the word.

The Church says it this way:
1238 The baptismal water is consecrated by a prayer of epiclesis (either at this moment or at the Easter Vigil). The Church asks God that through his Son the power of the Holy Spirit may be sent upon the water, so that those who will be baptized in it may be "born of water and the Spirit."40

What do yo think?

Sincerely,

De Maria

Just a thought about divorce and remarriage in the Catholic Church

On the Sacred Page, they are discussing the Synod of the Family and Catholic marriage.  That led me to this thought.

I wonder what the divorce statistics are for Catholics who have had their first marriage annulled?

I'm wondering because, the annulment process seems to be a very educational process. I've had several friends who went through the annulment process and it has been my experience that they learn a great deal about their faith going through that process.

I looked it up on the internet but could find no statistics regarding the divorce rate amongst Catholics who had married again after their first marriage was annulled. If this rate is very low because of the educational opportunity which the annulment process forces people to undergo, then it might be a Godsend if somehow, divorced people are pardoned but required to go through a similar process in order to remarry or if already remarried, in order to be restored to participation in the Sacraments.