Editing Church of Satan (section)

===The Grotto System===

Within Satanism, a [[Grotto (Satanism)|Grotto]] is a [[clandestine cell system|clandestine]] association or gathering of Satanists within geographical proximity for means of social, ritual, and special interest activities.<ref>[http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html The Church of Satan Website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701104244/http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html |date=2012-07-01 }}, under Affiliation: The Grotto System Retrieved December 3, 2010</ref> The Church of Satan no longer formally recognizes or charters grottos.<ref name=grotto/> The primary reason for the end of the Grotto system is that only a small minority of members ever participated. This was further compounded by the fact that a publicly listed Grotto defeated the ability to remain secret and unknown to the larger populace. The Grotto system was in practice replaced by social media, private online forums, and other methods for members to interact with one another outside of the need for a so-called Grotto Master and annual reports to the central office of the Church of Satan.<ref name=grotto>{{cite web|title = The Grotto System {{!}} churchofsatan.com|url = http://www.churchofsatan.com/the-grotto-system.php|website= www.churchofsatan.com|access-date= 2015-08-23|first = Peter H.|last = Gilmore}}</ref>