Oh for heaven's sake! If I'm a doctor, I don't have to have cancer in order to treat it or to be empathic with my patients about it.
I'm in favor of optional celibacy for priests, or, rather, that married men ought to be called to the priesthood. But I'm not sure that even a married marriage counselor uses his own marriage as a benchmark when counselling other married people.
Not the same thing at all. Cancer is a disease, sexuality is a normal part of human life. I'd not want to have a lifelong vegetarian cooking my steak, or a committed pedestrian teaching my kids how to drive. Having some experience with the effects of a healthy sexual relationship with another adult person can give a counselor an insight as to how the dynamics of a marital relationship work surrounding this category. The two most quarrelled-over subjects in marriage are money and sex. I wouldn't want someone who is a long term welfare recipient to be giving couples financial advice, either.
I'm in favor of optional celibacy for priests, or, rather, that married men ought to be called to the priesthood. But I'm not sure that even a married marriage counselor uses his own marriage as a benchmark when counselling other married people.
Experience always makes people richer, if they can learn from it. Even failure gives a person perspective. I'd rather learn business principles from a person who has tried and failed several businesses before hitting on what works, than from a person whose first idea succeeded right from the start.