An Anglican bishop today lifted an order which had banned 12 men from talking about their abuse at church-run homes, and admitted it had hindered one victim's recovery.
The confidentiality order part of a settlement reached with the men, who were abused when they lived at the Coventry Home in Armidale and Ohio Boys Home in Walcha, in NSW, between 1945 and 1955.
Under the settlement deal, the men were banned from talking to the media about the abuse they suffered.
But the Bishop of Armidale, the Right Reverend Dr Peter Brain, lifted the order today, saying he "regretted" its inclusion.
"Looking back at it, I've been in correspondence with one man who, (to) not be able to speak about what happened in the home has certainly been holding him back," he told AAP.
"It probably would have been wiser not for us to include the confidentiality agreement and we acknowledge that."
A Senate inquiry recently recommended that confidentiality orders should not be included in settlements with people who suffered abuse in children's institutions.
Dr Brain said the order, asking all parties not to divulge details of the settlement and the alleged facts, was included in good faith as it was thought to be normal procedure in mediation settlements.
However, he realised after talking to one of the victims that it was not the right thing to do.
"I regret the inclusion of this clause may be impairing the recovery process for some of the men," Dr Brain said.
"Therefore, those who wish to speak beyond the counselling room of the circumstances that have led to their own hurt and pain, will not be treated by myself or the diocese as breaching the conditions of the deed of release.
"I have been able to speak to some of the men since the mediation and continue to make myself available to talk with them whenever they wish."